(QB Anthony Colandrea – Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Anthony Colandrea, QB Tony Muskett, RB Kobe Pace, WR Malachi Fields, OC Brian Stevens, OG Ty Furnish, OG Noah Josey, OT McKale Boley, OT Blake Steen, DE Chico Bennett Jr., DE Kam Butler, DE Ben Smiley III, NT Jahmeer Carter, LB James Jackson, LB Kam Robinson, CB Malcolm Greene, FS Jonas Sanker, PR Suderian Harrison, PK Will Bettridge, and PT Daniel Sparks.
Key Players Departing:
RB Mike Hollins, RB Perris Jones, WR/KR Malik Washington (Dolphins R6), DE Paul Akere, DE Aaron Faumui, LB Josh Ahern, CB Dave Herard, CB Coen King, CB Dre Walker, and NB Tayvonn Kyle.
(WR Andre Greene Jr. – Inside Carolina)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Andre Greene Jr. (North Carolina transfer), WR Chris Tyree (Notre Dame transfer), EDGE Tyler Simmons (Windermere, Florida), CB Kendren Smith (Pennsylvania transfer), TE Tyler Neville (Harvard transfer), WR Trell Harris (Kent State transfer), CB Kempton Shine (Eastern Michigan transfer), ATH Kameron Courtney (Woodbridge, Virginia), TE John Rogers (Alexandria, Virginia), and DS Keke Adams (Avon, Connecticut).
2023 Results:
G01 vs. #12 Tennessee L 13-49
G02 JAMES MADISON L 35-36
G03 @ Maryland L 14-42
G04 NC STATE L 21-24
G05 @ Boston College L 24-27
G07 WILLIAM & MARY W 27-13
G07 @ #10 North Carolina W 31-27
G08 @ MIAMI (FL) L (OT) 26-29
G09 GEORGIA TECH L 17-45
G10 @ #11 Louisville L 24-31
G11 DUKE W 30-27
G12 VIRGINIA TECH L 17-55
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 3-9 (13th in ACC)
Home: 2-4
Away: 1-4
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 2-6
Non-AAC: 1-3
Head Coach: Tony Elliott
Virginia: 6-16
Career: 6-16
Bowls: 0-0
(WR Malachi Fields – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Anthony Colandrea (154-246, 1958 yards, 62.6%, 8.0 avg., 13 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Kobe Pace (125 car., 382 yards, 3.1 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Malachi Fields (58 rec., 811 yards, 14.0 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Malachi Fields (5)
Sacks: Kam Butler (3.5)
Tackles: Jonas Sanker (107)
Tackles For Loss: Kam Butler (5)
Interceptions: Kam Robinson (2)
Pass Deflections: Jonas Sanker (11)
Forced Fumbles: Jonas Sanker (3)
Kick Returns: Ethan Davies (2 ret., 59 yards, 29.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Suderian Harrison (8 ret., 37 yards, 4.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Will Bettridge (18-21 fg/fga., 86%, 31-31 xp/xpa., 85 pts.)
Punting: Daniel Sparks (64 punts, 2746 yards, 42.9 avg., 10 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 10 Anthony Colandrea (SO)
RB: 5 Kobe Pace (SR/TR)
WR: 8 Malachi Fields (RS JR)
WR: 6 JR Wilson (JR)
WR: 4 Chris Tyree (GR/TR)
TE: 44 Sackett Wood Jr. (GR)
LT: 52 McKale Boley (JR)
LG: 77 Noah Josey (RS JR)
OC: 55 Brian Stevens (GR/TR)
RG: 51 Ty Furnish (RS JR)
RT: 54 Blake Steen (RS SO)
KR: 4 Chris Tyree (GR/TR)
PK: 41 Will Bettridge (JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Ben Smiley III (RS SR)
NT: 90 Jahmeer Carter (GR)
DT: 96 Bryce Carter (RS JR)
DE: 15 Chico Bennett Jr. (GR/TR)
LB: 5 Kam Robinson (SO)
LB: 7 James Jackson (SR)
NB: 3 Corey Thomas Jr. (GR/TR)
CB: 6 Drew Walker (SO)
CB: 8 Malcolm Greene (GR/TR)
FS: 20 Jonas Sanker (SR)
SS: 0 Antonio Clary (RS SR)
PR: 26 Ethan Davies (RS JR)
PT: 38 Daniel Sparks (SR/TR)
(SS Jonas Sanker – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: D
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 RICHMOND SPIDERS | Virginia leads the series 10-1. The Cavs won (34-17) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
09/07 @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Virginia leads the series 34-17. The Cavs lost (17-37) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
09/14 MARYLAND TERRAPINS | Virginia trails the series 32-45.2. Last season’s 14-42 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2013.
09/21 @ Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | First meeting between schools.
10/05 BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES | Virginia trails the series 1-7. Last season’s 24-27 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2020.
10/12 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS | Virginia trails the series 5-7. The Cavs are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series win (34-33) was in 2021.
10/19 @ Clemson Tigers | Virginia trails the series 8-40-1. The Cavs lost (23-41) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
10/26 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | Virginia trails the series 59-66-4. The Cavs are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (28-31) was in 2022.
11/09 @ PITT Panthers | Virginia trails the series 4-10. The Cavs lost (7-37) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/16 @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Virginia trails the series 0-4. The Cavs lost (3-28) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/23 SMU MUSTANGS | First meeting between schools.
11/30 @ Virginia Tech Hokies | Virginia trails the series 38-61-5. The Cavs are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (39-30) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Road: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-5
Non-ACC: 3-1
Overall: 6-6 (12th in ACC)
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