ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- It's hard to believe the quarterback who won nine games and finished seventh in the ACC in total offense in 2007 would use the word "lazy" to describe himself, but that's the very quality Virginia senior Jameel Sewell said was the reason he was academically ineligible for all of 2008.

Sewell, who seems much more mature than he was in 2007, clarified that he wasn't lazy on the football field -- just in the classroom.

"I absolutely love football," he said. "I don't absolutely love school."

That drew a few understanding chuckles from the reporters around his table on Sunday at Virginia's media day. Sewell, who has returned as one of three candidates for the starting quarterback job, was refreshingly candid about his situation last year, but at the same time he made it clear he understood the gravity of the situation.

"I would meet with Coach [Al] Groh a lot and coming back I had a conversation with Coach Groh, one of the more very, very serious ones, and I told coach, I said, 'You know coach, when I got here I really didn't care too much about school. School wasn't like a big deal for me,'" Sewell said. "I said, 'But now, being suspended and going through a lot of the things I went through,' I said, 'I actually want to graduate. I do care about graduating now.' I do think of school in a different aspect now. I'm not saying I love it -- not at all. But it's something I've gotta do to better my life because football ain't always there."

Virginia struggled mightily without Sewell in the lineup last year, but now the Cavaliers have more experience at the position to choose from. Former cornerback Vic Hall, who also happens to be Sewell's roommate, has earned the praises of the coaching staff not only for his athleticism, but also for his leadership, and Marc Verica started almost every game last year, but had 16 interceptions to eight touchdowns.

"I definitely expected to have to work for my job," Sewell said. "I didn't ever expect for them to say, 'Ok, yeah, Jameel you're back, do this,' because I really didn't do anything. You always have to work for everything you have, and I'm willing to do so. I'm still willing to compete. It's all about competition. Competition makes the team better."

If Sewell doesn't win the starting job, he said there's a possibility he could line up elsewhere on the field, and he's more than willing to play anywhere.

"There's definitely a possibility," he said. "I think, I would hope. Whatever I can do to get on the field I'm going to do it. Wherever I can help. I feel like I have the ability to do so. Athletic-wise, I can play any position to help."

Regardless of whether Sewell wins the starting quarterback job this fall, he's on track to get what he really came back for. He is about 20 credits shy of graduating.