UVa's new-look offense continues to gel ahead of the opener
Virginia’s preseason camp is in full swing as the Hoos prepare for the season with a new look roster. Head coach Tony Elliott and his staff brought in 54 new players this year, hoping to continue and potentially finish the program’s rebuild.
Among those newcomers is an arsenal of new offensive weapons, highlighted by starting quarterback Chandler Morris, who arrived in Charlottesville in January from North Texas.
Morris, who is entering his sixth collegiate season, shined in his lone year with the Mean Green, breaking North Texas’ record for passing yards per game (314.5) while scoring the fourth most passing touchdowns (31) in the nation. While he still has a few weeks before his UVa debut, he has already received praise from a fellow newcomer, graduate wide receiver Cam Ross.
QB1 and the WRs are coming together
“He throws a real friendly ball,” Ross said. “Ever since our first throwing session, I knew it’d be great working with him. [He’s a] real experienced QB. Like myself, he’s been through it. Good or bad, he’s seen it all.”
Ross, who previously spent time at UConn (2019-23) and JMU (2024), has also been a standout in the offense, receiving a shoutout from head coach Tony Elliott on Wednesday.
“Every day he shows me a little bit more,” Elliott said. “I’ve been really pleased with Cam Ross, his play speed, his ability to absorb the playbook. He’s already shown the ability to be moved around from position to position and not slow down. So he’s been fun to watch.”
Ross was the first of several receivers Elliott gave praise to recently, including three fellow newcomers — graduate Jayden Thomas, senior Jahmal Edrine and freshman Isaiah Robinson — as well as junior TyLyric Coleman, who returns to the program after being limited to seven appearances last year due to injury.
All-in-all, this year’s receiving corps is stacked with talent and depth, with the competition for starting spots still very much up in the air. Luckily for the Cavaliers, Morris has a track record of sharing the ball, with eight receivers from North Texas ending the year with over 200 yards, a trend that if continued could do wonders for UVa’s deep receiver room.
RBs bring flexibility
The more versatile passing attack will be coupled with a bolstered run game led by returning senior Xavier Brown. Alongside Brown, the Hoos bolstered the running back position with transfers like graduate Harrison Waylee and J’Mari Taylor.
Both added much needed experience and depth to the room, while returning junior Noah Vaughn picked up some valuable playing time last year, capped off with a start in the Hoos’ season finale against Virginia Tech.
“If we become the offense I believe we’re capable of, we should be able to run the ball very effectively and also be able to throw the ball effectively as well,” offensive coordinator Des Kitchings said post-practice recently. “That’s championship-caliber offense, not to be just one dimensional.”
With time ticking down until the season opener against Coastal Carolina on Aug. 30, Elliott said his squad has shown competitiveness and even a bit of edge so far, but is an all-around tight group.
“I believe we got guys that really want to be a team,” Elliott said recently, “and they showed up to work every single day, and we started to see the leadership really, really emerged.”
