28 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
VIRGINIA
HEAD COACH: Tony Elliott OC: Des Kitchings DC: John Rudzinski
Charlottesville, VA
2022 RECORD: 3-7 (1-6) FOUNDED: 1819 STADIUM: Scott (61,500)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Multi-faceted quarterback Brennan Armstrong has taken off for NC State leaving the Cavaliers with transfer Tony Muskett from Monmouth at quarterback. Muskett is a veteran starter, makes few mistakes, but is nothing flashy. The offensive line lost the left side to the transfer portal (Logan Taylor and John Paul Flores), but gained Ugonna Nnanna and Jimmy Christ in the same manner. That’s basically a push, so the line that struggled mightily last season may not be much better this season. The leading running backs all return, but Clemson transfer Kobe Pace will get the most carries. The receiving corps was depleted, but help has arrived in Malik Washington, a two-year starter at Northwestern. Washington had 109 catches for 1,272 yards over the past two seasons. Tight end Grant Misch is the only returning player with more than five catches last season.
The Virginia defense wasn’t bad at all last season, especially considering how little the offense pitched in to take pressure off of the defense. Opponents averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, five yards per play and converted just 37 percent on third down. The unit returns virtually intact, other than the two corners and linebacker Nick Jackson. Josh Ahern, who played significantly in the rotation last season, takes over for Jackson. Transfers Malcolm Greene (Clemson) and Tayvonn Kyle (Iowa State) will be the new corners. The front seven should be a strength, especially the line. Kam Butler and Chico Bennett Jr. were able to apply pressure off the edges last season, and Jahmeer Carter and Aaron Faumui provided a healthy push in the middle. James Jackson makes plays all over the field, and safety Jonas Sanker was the second-leading tackler.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 11 5 6 8 4 85 52 71 51 77 50
PLAYER Tony Muskett Kobe Pace Demick Starling Malachi Fields Malik Washington Grant Misch McKale Boley Ugonna Nnanna Ty Furnish Noah Josey Jimmy Christ
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-2 5-10 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-7
WT 215 200 188 218 190 247 332 300 279 316 315
CLASS SR SR SR JR SR SR SO SR JR JR SR
NO 82 90 94 15 33 7 8 23 9 0 20
PLAYER Kam Butler Jahmeer Carter Aaron Faumui Chico Bennett Jr. Josh Ahern James Jackson Malcolm Greene Tayvonn Kyle Coen King Antonio Clary Jonas Sanker
POS DE NT DT LB LB LB CB CB S S S
HT 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-3 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1
WT 265 313 285 252 235 228 199 188 191 199 199
CLASS SR SR SR SR SR JR SR SR SR SR JR
10 2 17 83 18 44 79 55 63 78 60
Anthony Colandrea QB Perris Jones RB JR Wilson WR Dakota Twitty WR Jaden Gibson WR Sackett Wood Jr. TE Colby McGhee LT Brian Stevens LG Joey Kagel C Jestus Johnson III RG Charlie Patterson RT
6-0 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-0 6-3 6-6
182 180 215 224 180 244 298 290 266 306 281
FR SR SO SO FR SR JR SR JR JR JR
10 19 18 1 2 16 31 22 21 3 13
Ben Smiley III DE Olasunkonmi Agunloye DT Michael Diatta NT Paul Akere LB Stevie Bracey LB Trey McDonald LB Micah Gaffney CB Elijah Gaines CB Donovan Johnson Sr. S Langston Long S Sam Westfall S
6-4 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-3 5-11 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-1
274 282 268 275 235 217 193 200 199 216 201
SR SR JR SR SO SO JR SR SR JR SR
41 38
Will Bettridge Daniel Sparks
173 200
SO SR
6 26
Demick Starling Ethan Davies
188 189
SR JR
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
5-11 6-6
2023 SCHEDULE S.2 ... Tennessee (Nashville)
O.21 ........at North Carolina
S.9 ............... James Madison
O.28 .........................at Miami
S.16 ................... at Maryland
N.4 ................... Georgia Tech
S.22 .......................... NC State
N.9 ......................at Louisville
S.30 ........ at Boston College
N.18 ................................Duke
O.7 ............... William & Mary
N.25 .................Virginia Tech
SPECIAL TEAMS KR PR
6-0 5-10
NEWCOMERS Jaden Gibson, WR — With ample opportunity to show off his skills, Gibson has played his way onto the depth chart and will get some reps early in the season. He could also become a factor in the return game. Kamren Robinson, LB — Given the low numbers at linebacker, freshman Robinson will likely be thrown into the fire at some point this season. Malik Washington, WR — The dependable receiver became a go-to player for Northwestern last season.
