Five things we learned about UVA in the win over W&M

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Five things we learned from Virginia’s 27-13 win over William & Mary on Saturday:

1. Offensive-line adjustments pay off

The Cavaliers’ coaching staff knew that it had to do something about the right side of the offensive line, where Ty Furnish was starting at right guard and Ugonna Nnanna was at right tackle. UVA was having difficulty running to that side and protecting QBs from that side.

So, the coaches switched Nnanna and Furnish on Saturday, moving Nnanna inside to guard and Furnish outside to tackle, which seemed to help against a good W&M defense, ranked No. 1 nationally among FCS schools. While the Cavaliers still gave up too many sacks, it was mostly against the Tribe’s two excellent pass-rushers, who will likely play on Sundays down the road. Meanwhile, Jimmy Christ also showed some signs of progress as the O-Line continues its slow development.

2. Muskett has plenty of powder

Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett was sacked four times on Saturday and suffered some pain on his injured shoulder when he stretched out on a fourth-and-4 run for a first down. Muskett had to come out of the game for a short checkup in the UVA medical tent on the sideline, but missed only one play before coming back in and throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Malik Washington to clinch the Cavaliers’ first win of the season.

When it was over, Tony Elliott talked about his quarterback playing with pain, but Muskett said he would do anything to help UVA and his teammates win.

This kid loves UVA and loves his teammates, and was sincere about giving up his body to make a crucial play. If you had any thoughts about Muskett being soft because he missed three games due to a shoulder injury against Tennessee in the opener, think again. If he can play, he will answer the bell.

3. Four more years for Colandrea?

Saturday’s game also gave us a clearer picture of the coaching staff’s plans for true freshman backup QB Anthony Colandrea. Colandrea filled in admirably for Muskett when the starter went down for three games, smashing the UVA freshman record for single-game passing yardage.

However, when Muskett came out of the game Saturday, Colandrea remained sidelined. Instead, Elliott sent in sophomore reserve Grady Brosterhous. Why?

Because Colandrea has played in four games this season. If he plays in five or more, he will burn his redshirt. So, UVA is planning on keeping Colandrea on the bench the rest of the year and having him stick around as the starter for the next four years beginning in 2024. However, if Muskett gets injured, Elliott confessed he would have to play Colandrea and forget the redshirt.

We assume Colandrea is okay with all of this, or otherwise we might see him in the transfer portal.

4. The best Washington since George?

Northwestern transfer Malik Washington continued to terrorize opposing secondaries on Saturday with a seven-catch game (targeted 10 times) for 112 yards and a touchdown. He also had 41 yards after the catch and had another explosive play, a 42-yard reception.

Washington woke up today ranked in the nation’s top 10 in several FBS categories. He is No. 4 nationally in receiving yards with 668; No. 7 in receiving yards per game (111.3); No. 10 in receptions per game (7.3) and tied for No. 20 in receiving touchdowns with five.

The former Big 10 standout now has four, 100-plus-yard receiving games in only six outings with the Cavaliers. The UVA record for most 100-yard receiving games in a single season is six, set by Dontayvion Wicks, who now plays for the Green Bay Packers. The career UVA record is nine by Germaine Crowell and Kris Burd.

5. He is who we thought he was

When Virginia landed in-state, 4-star recruit Kam Robinson from Tappahannock, the Cavaliers knew he was the kind of player they could build future defenses around. They were right.

In only his third start at linebacker, Robinson has already made an impact. He led the Cavaliers in tackles with a season-high 12 against W&M, surpassing the 11 he had in his first start against NC State (which also led the team for that game). The 12 stops were the most by a UVA true freshman since Ahmad Brooks (12 tackles) against Pitt in the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl game in Charlotte. Brooks went on to star for the San Francisco 49ers.

Robinson helped thwart W&M’s last-ditch, fourth-down efforts late in the game, huge stops equivalent to gaining a turnover.

“I just grabbed my keys and played my cards right,” Robinson said after the game. “That’s [studying] film. That’s helped me a lot. I saw the back and I just took a shot.”