(Photo Credit: The Cavalier Daily)
Key Players Returning:
RB Xavier Brown, OG Noah Josey, OG Blake Steen, OT McKale Boley, DT Jahmeer Carter, NT Anthony Britton, LB Trey McDonald, LB Kam Robinson, CB Jam Jackson, SS Antonio Clary, PK Will Bettridge, and PT Daniel Sparks.
Key Players Departing:
QB Anthony Colandrea, RB Kobe Pace, WR Malachi Fields, TE Tyler Neville, OC Brian Stevens, OG Ty Furnish, DE Chico Bennett Jr., DE Kam Butler, DE Ben Smiley III, DT Michael Diatta, NB Kendren Smith, FS Jonas Sanker, CB Malcolm Greene, CB Kempton Shine, SS Corey Thomas, KR Chris Tyree, and PR Ethan Davies.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: OT Monroe Mills (Louisville transfer), WR Jahmal Edrine (Purdue transfer), ATH Josiah Persinger (Chesterfield, Virginia).
3 Star Recruits: CB CJ Spence (Virginia Beach, Virginia), DT Hunter Osborne (Alabama transfer), WR Josiah Abdullah (Atlanta, Georgia), QB Bjorn Jurgensen (Orlando, Florida), OT Makilan Thomas (Arkansas State transfer), CB Jordan Robinson (Cincinnati transfer), and QB Chandler Morris (North Texas transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 RICHMOND W 34-13
G02 @ Wake Forest W 31-30
G03 MARYLAND L 13-27
G04 @ Coastal Carolina W 43-24
G05 BOSTON COLLEGE W 24-14
G07 LOUISVILLE L 20-24
G07 @ #10 Clemson L 31-48
G08 NORTH CAROLINA L 14-41
G09 @ #18 Pittsburgh W 24-19
G10 @ #8 Notre Dame L 14-35
G11 #13 SMU L 7-33
G12 @ Virginia Tech L 17-37
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 5-7 (13th in ACC)
Home: 2-4
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 2-2
Head Coach: Tony Elliott
Virginia: 11-23
Bowls: 0-0
Career: 11-23
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Xavier Brown (80 car., 488 yards, 6.1 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Trell Harris (15 rec., 221 yards, 14.7 avg., 2 TD)
TDs Scored: Xavier Brown (3)
Sacks: Kam Robinson (5)
Tackles: Kam Robinson (64)
Tackles For Loss: Kam Robinson (6)
Interceptions: 4 Tied (1)
Pass Deflections: Jam Jackson (6)
Forced Fumbles: Landon Danley/Billy Koudelka/Kam Robinson (1)
Kick Returns: Xavier Brown (2 ret., 58 yards, 29.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Antonio Clary (2 ret., 12 yards, 6.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Will Bettridge (18-21 fg/fga., 86%, 24-24 xp/xpa., 78 pts.)
Punting: Daniel Sparks (57 punts, 2543 yards, 44.6 avg., 14 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 4 Chandler Morris (RS SR)
RB: 20 Xavier Brown (RS JR)
WR: 7 Jahmal Edrine (RS SR/TR)
WR: 11 Trell Harris (RS JR/TR
)WR: 5 Kameron Courtney (SO)
TE: 9 Dakota Twitty (RS JR)
LT: 52 McKale Boley (SR)
LG: 77 Noah Josey (RS SR)
OC: 76 Brandy Wilson (GR/TR)
RG: 54 Blake Steen (RS JR)
RT: 71 Monroe Mills (GR/TR)
KR: 6 Cam Ross (GR/TR)
PK: 41 Will Bettridge (SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 6 Cazeem Moore (SR/TR)
NT: 90 Jahmeer Carter (GR)
DT: 91 Jason Hamilton (RS SO)
DE: 17 Mitchell Melton (GR/TR)
LB: 7 James Jackson (SR)
LB: 5 Kam Robinson (JR)
NB: 26 Caleb Hardy (JR)
CB: 10 Ja’Son Prevard (JR/TR)
CB: 9 Jam Jackson (SR/TR)
FS: 27 Devin Neal (GR/TR)
SS: 0 Antonio Clary (RS SR)
PR: 1 Suderian Harrison (JR)
PT: 38 Daniel Sparks (GR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: A
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/30 COASTAL CAROLINA CHANTICLEERS | Last season’s 43-24) win was the first meeting between schools.
09/06 @ NC State Wolfpack | Virginia trails the series 22-37-1. The Cavaliers lost (21-24) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (21-38) the prior meeting in 2020.
09/13 WILLIAM & MARY TRIBE | Virginia leads the series 32-6-1. The Cavaliers are 5-0 since 2015, and they won (27-13) the last meeting in 2023.
09/20 STANFORD CARDINAL | First meeting.
09/26 FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES | Virginia trails the series 4-14. The Cavaliers won (31-24) the last meeting in 2019, and they lost (20-34) the prior meeting in 2014.
10/04 @ Louisville Cardinals | Virginia trails the series 5-8. The Cavaliers are 3-7 since 2015, and their last series win (34-33) was in 2021.
10/18 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS | First meeting.
10/25 @ North Carolina Tar Heels | Virginia trails the series 22-37-1. The Cavaliers lost (21-24) the last meeting in 2023, and they lost (21-38) the prior meeting in 2020.
11/01 @ California Golden Bears | First meeting.
11/08 WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS | Virginia leads the series 35-17. The Cavaliers are 1-3 since 2016, and their last series loss (17-37) was in 2021.
11/15 @ Duke Blue Devils | Virginia leads the series 41-34. The Cavaliers are 8-1 since 2015, and they won (30-27) the last meeting in 2023.
11/29 VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES | Virginia trails the series 38-62-5. The Cavaliers are 1-8 since 2015, and their last series win (39-30) was in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 4-3
Road: 0-5
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 3-5
Non-ACC: 1-3
Overall: 4-8 (11th in ACC)
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