With just a few days remaining in July, the start of preseason practice for the Virginia football team is right around the corner. The Hoos officially open camp on Friday, August 5 as they prepare for the season opener against Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 3.
Before UVA takes the field for the first time under new coach Tony Elliott, The Sabre decided to check in with our student media members for their thoughts on the 2022 season. Maddie Blankenship, Michael Curran, Tucker Myers, and William Foshee tackled seven questions about the Wahoos.
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1. One thing that older fans often wonder about is what motivates or would motivate students to attend football games more consistently at Scott Stadium. What do you think would bring students to the stands more often?
Maddie: I think back to my first year in 2019, the year we beat Tech and broke the streak. The excitement around Bryce Perkins and his proven success was electric. Students, for the first time in a long time, truly believed this team could beat VT. Why? The offense was exciting and Perkins was like superman. Armstrong has the same qualities. No prizes or games will make students invested, but a star player brings fans to Scott Stadium. I predict attendance will rise this season because of the Armstrong's reputation and curiosity around Tony Elliott. But Virginia, unlike other schools, must perform to keep students invested. Using UVA basketball as a road map, it looks like it will take top recruits and repeatedly winning seasons to have true student buy in.
Michael: Winning. While that is certainly not specific to students, a winning team will always bring more fans to the stadium. Oftentimes promotions are used to attempt to draw students to games, but I tend to think this is not a particularly effective strategy as most of the promotions are not things that motivate college students. Early kickoff times are also definitely a factor in student attendance. Last year’s 11 a.m. start time against Illinois was brutally early for many students on a Saturday morning. Night and late afternoon starts are much better for drawing significant student crowds. In the end, I genuinely believe a team that wins and can compete week in and week out is the key to attendance. With regards to this season, if the team can rack up some wins early in the year on the road at Illinois and Syracuse and at home against Louisville that will be key. Miami, UNC, Pitt, and Coastal Carolina will all travel to Scott Stadium late in the season so early season success should boost attendance in that stretch.
Tucker: One of the biggest reasons I see as to why students do not attend more games is because of the recent results. In sports, the more a team wins, the more its fanbase will get involved. Since 2008, the Cavaliers are 71-100 with only three winning seasons in that span. The good news is that Virginia is 28-21 in its last four seasons, including a trip to the Orange Bowl. Looking at basketball, Tony Bennett has established a winning culture, which is why John Paul Jones Arena is usually raucous. Virginia football needs to win games to win its students over.
William: It is difficult to say that UVA has what you would call a “robust” fan base as games are often underpopulated and many seats are left vacant. To me, this has always felt like an issue of performance. There are few things worse than making the trek back from Scott Stadium to apartments or houses following a devastating Cavalier loss. However, with the arrival of Tony Elliott, UVA’s football culture seems to be shifting and I already anticipate much higher attendance this year.
2. Do you sense any different level of interest or a growing buzz with Virginia students for the Tony Elliott era?
Maddie: I sense excitement in students, not only because of Tony Elliot, but because of Brennan Armstrong's return. Elliott comes from a well respected program in Clemson which creates buzz, but what is most encouraging is the weapons Elliott will have in his returning QB and receivers.
Michael: I think in the immediate aftermath of Bronco Mendenhall’s announcement there was a level of shock and uneasiness. Mendenhall was able to turn around a program at rock bottom and take it to an Orange Bowl, the first New Year’s Six Bowl Game in program history, in just a few years. However, questions were starting to emerge, among those that followed the program extensively, as to whether Mendenhall had effectively reached his peak and whether he could continue pushing the team to new levels, particularly in recruiting. Without knowing who the replacement was going to be it was easy for students to not feel great about the program.
The eventual hiring of Tony Elliott seemed to inject some optimism, though. Simply the fact that Elliott comes from a Clemson program that has recently won National Championships was enough for many students to be excited. The new staff combined with the upcoming football facility renovations have reinvigorated a program that looked to be slipping into neutral following the 2019 Orange Bowl appearance. Optimism is certainly present among students and fans, but, in the end, on-field performance is the only thing that can capture that optimism and grow it moving forward. It may be cliched, but winning cures everything, including student interest.
Tucker: I believe there is a buzz that Virginia football is heading in the right direction with Tony Elliott. Elliott proved he could win at Clemson, and he has a chance to show what he can do as a coach and leader of a football program. The coaching staff is filled with coaches who have had success at the college level, whether it be John Rudzinski’s and Curome Cox’s defense at Air Force or the offensive success from Des Kitchings at North Carolina State and South Carolina. Change can be a good thing, and I believe fans are ready for the next era.
William: Without a doubt, Tony Elliott has created a renewed sense of excitement and enthusiasm for UVA football among the student body. In my time as a UVA fan, I had never heard anyone talk as much about a Spring Game as this past year, when Elliott was making his first appearance for the Hoos. Furthermore, with Armstrong deciding to stay another year, I think that this is potentially the most anticipated UVA football season in recent history.
3. Who do you think will be the offensive superlatives this season for: most touchdowns scored, rushing yards, passing yards, and receiving yards?
Maddie: Most touchdowns scored: Brennan Armstrong. He was responsible for so much of Virginia's offensive production last year. Rushing yards: Mike Hollins seems the mostly likely candidate for the starting RB position. Given he will probably see the most opportunities to rush, he is my top candidate. But, I would not put it past Armstrong or Keytaon Thompson to shine in this area as well. Passing yards: Brennan Armstrong, no doubt about it. 4,449 yards last season and his receiver group has only gotten better. Receiving yards: Dontayvion Wicks. He won this category last season. His ability to make contested catches and elude tackles puts Wicks as my top candidate.
Michael: Most touchdowns scored and receiving yards: After leading the team with 9 touchdowns last year, I will take Dontayvion Wicks to lead the team again this year and to crack double digit touchdowns this season. Jelani Woods accounted for 8 touchdowns last year, so somebody else will have to account for some of those, and Wicks is the obvious choice to get more looks from Armstrong. I also lean toward Wicks for the team’s receiving yards leader after his First Team All-ACC season a year ago in which he racked up 1,203 yards. Rushing yards and passing yards: I think Brennan Armstrong will accumulate the most on the team again this year. It is unclear if there will be a clear lead running back compared to a “by committee” strategy at the position, so Armstrong could end up with the most attempts again and I’ll take him to lead in yards as well. Armstrong will also be the passing yards leader as he leads what should be one of the very best passing attacks in the country.
Tucker: Passing yards: Barring injury, there is no way Armstrong does not have the most passing yards by season’s end. He is one of the most prolific passers in the FBS, and he should continue from where he left off last season. Most touchdowns scored and receiving yards For most touchdowns, excluding Brennan Armstrong, I’ll go with Dontayvion Wicks. A big-play receiver, Wicks should once again lead the team in receiving touchdowns. Virginia should continue to rely on the arm of Armstrong, and Wicks will have double-digit touchdowns. I also suspect Wicks to be at the top of the team in receiving yards. Rushing yards: I believe Mike Hollins will take the lead back role and pace the team in rushing yards. Keith Gaither has talked about wanting more out of him during spring camp, and he has the most experience in the running back room. Cody Brown and Ronnie Walker Jr. should make it a close race, but Brown recently transferred and Walker is nursing an injury that may go into the fall. I like the safe bet with Hollins.
William: Most touchdowns scored: Keytaon Thompson is who I think will have the most touchdowns for the Cavaliers this season. Stepping into the role as Armstrong’s primary target, he’ll have ample opportunity to build on his 990 yards and 2 TDs last season. Rushing yards: Mike Hollins is my pick to have the most rushing yards this season. Following the departure of former running back Wayne Tualapapa, who transferred to Washington, Hollins will have the spotlight on him as one of the Cavalier’s primary rushers. Passing yards: Brennan Armstrong is coming off of a historic performance last year and, as the returning starting quarterback, is a shoe-in for the post passing yards this season. Receiving yards: Keytaon Thompson, in line with prediction to have the most touchdowns this season, is also my choice for the most receiving yards. Though he only posted 990 yards last season, as mentioned, he’ll have more opportunities with the football this year and another valuable year of experience under his belt.
4. Who do you think will be the defensive superlatives this season for: most tackles, most sacks, and most interceptions?
Maddie: Most tackles and most sacks: Nick Jackson. He was a key leader in his third year and early predictions only have him getting better. Most interceptions: Anthony Johnson, who tied for most interceptions last season.
Michael: Most tackles: Nick Jackson had 30 more tackles than anyone else on the team in 2021 and is the leader of the Virginia defense. There is no reason to believe anyone else will surpass him this year. Most sacks: This is one of the more difficult superlatives to choose given the fact that the top three leaders in sacks in 2021 are all gone and the defense does not have a single All-ACC honoree beyond Jackson. Jackson had 2.5 sacks last year and is a contender given his experience, however, I will go with defensive lineman Ben Smiley III to lead the way in sacks. Smiley impressed the coaching staff during the Blue-White Spring Game, even drawing comparisons to former All-American Jonathan Allen of the Washington Commanders from Elliott. As a defensive lineman, he is likely going to have more chances to get after the quarterback than a linebacker like Jackson. Most interceptions: Cornerback Anthony Johnson is my pick to lead the team in interceptions this year after his three picks in 2021 tied safety Joey Blount for the team lead. Johnson also had the second most pass breakups on the team last season (6) and stands atop the depth chart among the defensive backs to start 2022.
Tucker: Most tackles: There is no better answer than Nick Jackson to lead the team in tackles. He has done so the past two seasons, while also leading the ACC in 2021. There is nothing for me to think that his production will go down, as Jackson has been the anchor of the defense and has been the bright spot in its darkest times. Most sacks: Kam Butler, the transfer from Miami (OH), will lead the team in sacks for 2022. Butler has one more year to shine in his opportunity against Power 5 opponents. In 2021, he was First-Team All-MAC with the Redhawks after having 8 sacks, and the closest returning Cavalier was Nick Jackson with 2.5. Most interceptions: Other than Anthony Johnson, there is not much ball-hawking production on the UVA roster. Johnson had 3 interceptions in 2021, and he has also been a physical cornerback, as evident by his 9 pass breakups that ranked No. 8 in the ACC. If Virginia wants to create turnovers, Johnson should be one of those guys to do it.
William: Most tackles: Nick Jackson is definitely the frontrunner to lead the team in tackles this year. After doing so last year, Jackson will be looking for a big senior season as he sets his sights on an NFL career. Most sacks: Jahmeer Carter is a strong candidate to log the most sacks for the Cavaliers as the 6’2” 319-pound nose tackle is one of Virginia’s most veteran defensive lineman after starting 10 of last year’s 12 games. Most interceptions: Darrius Bratton is my pick for most interceptions this year. After posting 30 tackles and 8 pass breakups in 2021, Bratton is poised for a big year in his 6th season with Virginia.
5. Who do you think are the best candidates to potentially earn their way on to the first-team All-ACC list by season’s end and why?
Maddie: Dontayvion Wicks and Brennan Armstrong. Wicks was first team All-ACC last season and will most likely do it again. In terms of Armstrong, many fans felt that he was ripped off with his third team All-ACC placement last season despite having top numbers in many categories. He is most definitely on the first team watchlist this season.
Michael: As the only Virginia player to earn First Team All-ACC honors in 2021, Dontayvion Wicks is the obvious answer here. Brennan Armstrong should certainly be in the discussion as well, but the ACC has several good quarterbacks he will have to compete with for First Team honors. Keytaon Thompson could certainly work his way onto the First Team after earning Second Team honors in 2021.
On defense, it is far less likely that a Virginia player will make their way onto the First Team, but Nick Jackson would be my choice if I had to predict one. Jackson earned Second Team All-ACC honors last year and was the only the Virginia defensive player named to any All-ACC team. It will take an incredible breakout season from another player to reach First Team honors.
Tucker: If Brennan Armstrong can have a similar season to 2021, and the Cavaliers boast about eight or nine wins, I can see Armstrong taking the spot in a deep quarterback conference. Last season, Armstrong was able to have three returning receivers named to All-ACC teams in Dontayvion Wicks (First), Keytaon Thompson (Second), and Billy Kemp IV (Third). Another big season could have these three in the running for First-Team honors.
Nick Jackson has a shot if the defense can put the pieces together. He will be the anchor of the unit and more than likely lead the team in tackles. Anthony Johnson could also be in the conversation if the pass defense improves. Johnson should pace the team in interceptions and pass breakups again and will be integral part of the secondary.
William: Nick Jackson, as the leader of the Cavalier defense, will hopefully be able to earn his spot on the first-team All-ACC list this year following his team-leading tackler performance last season. Brennan Armstrong, while not the flashiest quarterback, may be the best at his position in the ACC this season. If he can replicate, or improve on, his numbers from last season, there is no reason why he shouldn’t be honored with a spot on the list. Keytaon Thompson: If my other predictions ring true, Keytaon will have hopefully done enough to earn a spot on the first-team All-ACC roster. With his eyes set on the NFL next year, this accolade would be a major resume booster for the 6’4” 217-pound receiver. Dontayvion Wicks: Wicks, following his first team All-ACC performance last year, is in prime position to repeat this season, particularly with Wicks’ chemistry with Armstrong.
6. Besides Brennan Armstrong, which Virginia player are you most excited to watch this season?
Maddie: Lavel Davis Jr., we have heard a lot of hype around him, but because of his injury, he hasn't been able to show his capabilities. I have high hopes for the receiver.
Michael: WR Lavel Davis Jr. He had a great freshman year in 2020 but missed all of 2021 due to injury. I cannot wait to see how he will fit back into the offense alongside Dontayvion Wicks, Keytaon Thompson, Billy Kemp IV, and the rest of the receiving corps. As a freshman he was a deep threat and had one of the highest yards per reception rates in the country. If he can put up a similar rate he will immensely in helping stretch the defense vertically. I am curious to see how Davis will be involved in the offense as well as how his presence will impact the involvement of others, especially Wicks and Thompson, in the passing game.
Tucker: We saw how electric Lavel Davis Jr. was in his freshman year, as he was No. 2 in the nation in yards per reception. I am interested to see how he plays after his injury. It may take some time to get the rust off, but if he can build off his 2020 year, then Virginia may have best receiving room in the country not named Ohio State.
William: Keytaon Thompson will be one of the most exciting wide receivers in the ACC if not the country this year. While he has played multiple positions over his football career, Thompson’s time working solely as a wide receiver this offseason is sure to make him a household name.
7. Who is your top name to become a breakout star for Virginia this season?
Maddie: Lavel Davis Jr. He had breakout moments in his first year, but has faded into the back ground while sidelined with an injury. Now with a veteran quarterback, Davis should put up big numbers.
Michael: TE Grant Misch. Misch is likely to be the lead pass-catching tight end this year after Jelani Woods was drafted into the NFL. Woods had 598 yards and 8 touchdowns en route to a First Team All-ACC selection in 2021. Misch will look to fill that void and could be a key threat in the red zone in particular. Misch is the only returning tight end on the roster that caught a pass last year as he had 4 catches for 20 yards and a touchdown. He has appeared in 34 of UVA’s 36 games over the last three years. He’ll get a chance in the traditional tight end spot as well as in the H-back position this year. During the spring game, Misch led the position group with three catches for 62 yards. He has yet to show much production as a pass catcher but as the lead tight end with Armstrong at quarterback, Misch has the potential to breakout this season in a passing attack that is expected to, yet again, put up a lot of yards and points each and every week.
Tucker: I am intrigued by Mike Green in Year 2. Virginia needs edge rushers for its Bandit role, and Green can be that guy. He has the size (6’4”, 233 pounds), the athleticism, and the coaches’ confidence. The Cavaliers are looking for someone to create pressure, and Green can be that guy.
William: Chayce Chalmers is someone who I hope to see have a breakout season. In a year where Virginia will need to step up its secondary defense, Chalmers, who is now a junior, will hopefully have worked enough in the offseason to be a major contributor following his 2 tackles across 11 appearances last season.
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