A fitting tribute to a father, role model

By Jay Jenkins

Published: August 4, 2008

For years, Jared Green has known that he had a Hall of Fame father.
The football world now knows that, too.
On Saturday, in a moment that will live forever in Washington Redskins lore, Green presented his dad, Darrell, at the induction ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Green, a redshirt freshman wide receiver at Virginia, charmed the crowd that was covered with burgundy and gold, inducing laughter and tears during a moving introduction.
“My father’s been a Hall of Famer for years,” Green told the pro-Redskin crowd. “The definition of a Hall of Famer is someone who is great at everything. He was a great football player, but he was a better son, brother, father, businessman and most important, a man of God.”
Green essentially raced from the festivities to Charlottesville to report for the start of Virginia’s training camp. The Cavaliers opened practice last night at 6:30 p.m.
“Walking off the stage, my dad gave me a hug and said you know what you have to do now and that is camp,” Green said. “I couldn’t be more excited than I am right now.”
As originally planned, Green redshirted last season and hopes to push for playing time at what could be deemed Virginia’s deepest
position. The pre-training camp depth chart boasted senior Maurice Covington and junior Kevin Ogletree as the favorites, and reserves include senior Cary Koch and sophomores Dontrelle Inman and Staton Jobe. 
While manning a spot on the scout team last year, Green drew rave reviews from his teammates for his personality and work ethic, which he earned despite suffering a broken finger that sidelined him temporarily.
Green, of course, is still learning the game that his father dominated professionally for two decades. It was not until the youngster reached ninth grade that he was allowed to play the sport.
“The redshirt was the best for me,” said Green, who teamed with UVa tailback Keith Payne at Oakton High on a state title team in 2005. “It gave me time to learn the game, the plays and learn the defense and how they change coverages.
“Also, it gave me time to mature and find myself as a wide receiver. I feel like I’ve matured tremendously since I signed the papers to come here.”
Regardless of Green’s impact on the gridiron, he has emerged as a potential poster child in a program longing for positive
headlines.
Credit the former Redskin cornerback with an assist on that front, as well.
“You can score touchdowns or intercept the ball, but I don’t think that qualifies you as an outstanding role model,” Green said. “My dad, I think personally, because I’m his son, I think he’s the greatest role model a kid can have.”
Extra points …
Virginia announced a collection of players that have joined the team as walk-ons, a group that includes former Cavalier soccer standout Yannick Reyering. The native of Germany, who has completed his soccer eligibility, joins fellow walk-on placekicker Robert Randolph (Naples, Fla.) and returning redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein in the battle to become the starter.
The other players joining include the following: center John Maghamez (Ashburn), quarterback Kyle McArtin (Warrenton), wide receiver Johnny Pickett (Centreville) and linebacker Brady Stovall (Roanoke).