UVA starting QB still up in air; Wide Receiver leaving program; Clary has surgery

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s starting quarterback for Friday night’s ACC home opener against NC State remained clouded Tuesday afternoon, while one defensive player has undergone surgery and a wide receiver is leaving the program to transfer.

All of this came from Tony Elliott’s weekly presser Tuesday, with news that senior wide receiver Demick Starling is redshirting with the intent to leave the program after the season.

“I don’t anticipate him playing here next season,” Elliott said of the receiver from Nashville, Tenn.

Elliott said Starling feels that he will be best served by finishing his football career elsewhere, and that it’s his job to see that Starling finishes the year academically.

Starling has appeared in two games this season but does not have a reception. He does have one kickoff return for 21 yards.

Meanwhile, fifth-year safety Antonio Clary, who has suffered from an ankle injury, elected to have surgery to repair the ankle and will likely be out six weeks in recovery. Elliott said that there is a possibility that Clary can return to the team late in the season with maybe four games remaining.

“We don’t anticipate him missing the entire season,” Elliott said.

Also, strong safety Lex Long will not be available this week, bandit Paul Akere is day-to-day and defensive end Ben Smiley was still in concussion protocol as of Tuesday’s practice.

Offensive tackle Jimmy Christ, a transfer from Penn State who is yet to see any action this season due to a knee issue, has been cleared to play, but does not appear on UVA’s two-deep for the NC State game.

Elliott said Christ is “full-go,” and had some good reps in Tuesday’s practice.

Nose tackle Olasunkonmi Agunloye, whose season ended in the season opener against Tennessee with a freak injury to both knees during a sideline celebration, was in Elliott’s thoughts Tuesday. The coach said he hopes Agunloye will be able to attend Friday night’s game and reported that the big defensive lineman was “in good spirits.”

The quarterback situation remained up in the air Tuesday in terms of whether Tony Muskett — who started the season against Tennessee — will start against the Wolfpack. Muskett injured his shoulder late in the game against the Vols and hasn’t played since. He has been available the past two games in an emergency role only.

Elliott said Tuesday that Muskett is still working through his injury and remains day-to-day due to the soreness. The coach said he wanted to see Muskett finish a practice without any issues, not only from the throwing-a-football aspect, but with handing the ball off and other game actions.

“He definitely has progressed,” said Elliott, who is most concerned with Muskett’s long-term health.

Coming up later: A conversation with former UVA quarterback Brennan Armstrong from Tuesday afternoon, now starting for NC State; and a look at present Cavaliers quarterback Anthony Colandrea and how he compares to Armstrong.