Andrew Pearman back at UVa

"Jitterbug" is the term of endearment being thrown around at Virginia’s preseason camp to refer to Providence High graduate Andrew Pearman.

The day before camp started, Pearman was told he would be meeting with Anthony Poindexter, who coaches running backs. Pearman, who had been working at wide receiver, was happy.

"Just getting back here and being around these guys is so great," he said.

Pearman missed all but the first four games of last season when he left school for personal reasons. When Virginia coach Al Groh learned Pearman wanted to return this season, he decided to let Pearman’s natural talents shine through.

As a senior at Providence, Pearman rushed for 2,273 yards and 32 touchdowns. His brother, Alvin, was a first-team All-ACC running back for Virginia in 2004 and now is with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Andrew is just 5-foot-9 and 176 pounds, which seems too small to take the pounding at running back.

"While he may not look like the prototypical running back in size, that’s his style of play," Groh said. "So let’s just put him where things are most natural to him and get him off to a positive start now that he’s back. And he’s taken to it very well."

Poindexter dubbed Pearman the jitterbug because of his size, style and speed. Pearman is working with the second team behind teammate Cedric Peerman, and also is returning kickoffs and punts.

"It should be really great," Pearman said. "Out here I’m definitely not the biggest running back. . .but I’m having a lot of fun." – Ken Tysiac