New quarterbacks take stage as Coastal Carolina visits Virginia

Virginia coach Tony Elliott is not afraid to tout the positives related along with his crew getting into the season.

He hopes a lot of these attributes are on show towards Coastal Carolina on Saturday night time in Charlottesville, Va.

“I believe you are going to like what you see,” Elliott stated. “The expectation that we now have contained in the constructing might be larger than any expectation (from followers). There isn’t any excuses.”

Elliott, in his fourth season after final 12 months’s 5-7 document, has compiled a roster that features 32 transfers and 22 freshmen. Coming in by way of the switch portal is quarterback Chandler Morris, who spent final 12 months at North Texas and is the son of Chad Morris, a former teaching colleague with Elliott at Clemson.

“He is every thing that I keep in mind him to be by way of the management,” Elliott stated. “It was actually, actually good to see that (throughout practices).”

The whole Virginia teaching workers from final season nonetheless is on board, so the continuity is taken into account a blessing for the Cavaliers, who’ve gained seven of their previous eight season openers.

Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck, getting into his third season, stated there is a completely different mindset among the many Chanticleers in comparison with a 12 months in the past. They’re attempting to shake off a 6-7 season and so the following step comes with the start of a brand new marketing campaign.

“I can not even start to clarify the distinction within the crew make-up,” Beck stated. “You may simply really feel it. … Our management, basically, as a soccer crew is best.”

Beck named MJ Morris because the crew’s beginning quarterback for the Virginia recreation, although Coastal Carolina is anticipated to provide Tad Hudson and/or Samari Collier taking part in time as effectively.

“A really powerful, gifted younger man,” stated Beck, who was a North Carolina State assistant coach when Morris performed there in 2022. Morris appeared in seven video games for Maryland in 2024.

Beck stated the Chanticleers have had fierce competitors on the receiver place. Jameson Tucker stays a part of the receiving corps after catching a team-high six landing passes final season.

One of many high defenders within the Virginia secondary will likely be Ethan Minter, a sophomore at free security.

“Now his physicality is basically beginning to present,” Elliott stated. “He is anticipating performs. He acquired his fingers on quite a lot of balls, truly picked off a pair in fall camp. … He is capable of see the large image.”

Virginia gained final 12 months’s assembly 43-24 at Coastal Carolina, with Anthony Colandrea (now at UNLV) throwing two landing passes. The Cavaliers constructed a 27-10 halftime lead.

–Subject Degree Media