QB Morris is at “full-go” for NC State game

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Whew! Wahoo Nation let out a collective exhale Tuesday morning that could have blown the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria across the ocean blue with the news that quarterback Chandler Morris is good to go.

Tony Elliott told media at his game-week presser that his expectations are that Morris will play against NC State (noon, Saturday in Raleigh, ESPN2). Morris was injured on the first possession of the second half in UVA’s lopsided, season-opening win over Coastal Carolina and watched the rest of the game in street clothes from the sideline, and was later diagnosed with an AC joint injury.

“We’re going to need him,” Elliott said of Morris. “He was back in practice (Monday) and full-go, and so my expectation is that he has a great week of prep and he’s ready to go.”

NC State is a 2.5- to 3-point favorite by the oddsmakers. The Wolfpack won their opener in a tight game against rival East Carolina.

Morris, who transferred from North Texas, was impressive in his Virginia debut. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, no interceptions, no sacks. Those numbers were essentially from one half of football as he played the opening possession of the second half, led the Cavaliers to a score and was injured.

He was replaced by redshirt freshman Daniel Kaelin, who was scheduled to come in for the second possession of the second half prior to Morris’ injury.

“I thought [Morris] just showed maturity,” Elliott said of his starter. “It took us a couple of drives to really settle in. You’ve got a group of pretty much new guys playing together.

“Once he settled, he was able to distribute the ball, manage the system, put together scoring drives. I would have loved to see him go down feet-first, right there, but that’s what you love about him, is that he’s such a competitor.”

Morris was injured on a 28-yard run to the Coastal 2-yard line. Instead of taking a slide, he attempted to finish the run and took a hard hit to his shoulder that sidelined him for the rest of the game, causing the Wahoo fanbase much anxiety until Tuesday morning’s announcement.

“He was that close to the goal line and even down on the field, when I got to him, he had a little bit of a sense of humor,” Elliott said. “He said that wasn’t very smart, but he’s like, ‘Coach, I was so close and all I saw was the goal line.’ So I think we got to see the competitor, but then also we got to see a little bit of the gamesmanship of what he can do as a veteran quarterback.”