The Cavaliers have questions at quarterback. With the transfer of nine-game starter Greyson Lambert—recently named the starter at Georgia—junior Matt Johns will now lead the Cavalier passing attack. Although the Chalfront, Pa., native only started three games last year, he played in all 12 contests and threw for 1,109 yards and eight touchdowns. Virginia will need him to improve his accuracy—he completed just 55.9 percent of his passes in 2014—and make better decisions in order to contend in the ACC’s Coastal Division.
Despite the uncertainty under center, there are upsides to the Cavalier offense. Virginia returns an experienced offensive line and has veterans on the outside with receivers Canaan Severin and North Carolina transfer T.J. Thorpe. At running back, Taquan Mizzell will have a chance to showcase the athleticism that made him a highly-touted high school recruit.
Defensively, free safety Quin Blanding will lead a unit that lost several members of last year’s front line to the NFL. A five-star recruit, Blanding racked up 123 tackles and three interceptions a year ago on his way to a selection as a freshman All-American. Senior cornerback Demetrious Nicholson will lead a deep secondary after struggling with toe injuries each of the last two years.
The Cavaliers will face a series of tests early in the season, opening against No. 13 UCLA and No. 11 Notre Dame.
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