By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s defense can now begin preparation to face Missouri freshman quarterback Matt Zollers in the Tax Slayer Gator Bowl.

Coach Eli Drinkwitz said Thursday that Zollers will start for the Tigers in the Dec. 27 bowl game against the Cavaliers. Drinkwitz’s announcement came after veteran quarterback Beau Pribula’s statement that he would enter the transfer portal.

Pribula is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining and started 10 games for Missouri this past season. Pribula previously was at Penn State for three years, where he left that program prior to the opening round of last year’s College Football Playoff and committed to Missouri last Dec. 22.

According to one college football general manager, Pribula could command as much as $2 million from another program and there have been rumors connecting Pribula to his old coach at Penn State, James Franklin, who is now the head coach at Virginia Tech.

Pribula led the Tigers to a 7-3 record and suffered a left ankle injury against Vanderbilt in late October. That’s when Zollers took over and went 1-1 before Pribula returned to start in late November and went 1-1, losing to Oklahoma and beating Arkansas at season’s end. Zollers passed for 402 yards and four touchdowns, and was intercepted once while completing 53 percent of his passes. Zollers played in more than half of Missouri’s games.

A former 4-star quarterback, the Pennsylvania native is 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, and is the only returning scholarship quarterback on Missouri’s roster.

Missouri is also scrambling to replace offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, who has left the Tigers’ program to become head coach at Washington State. Drinkwitz has experience as a play caller, but it hasn’t been announced as to whether he will assume that role for the Gator Bowl game.