UVA depth chart released; Ganyard will handle kickoffs, O-Line healed up

Countdown to Kickoff

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s depth chart for Saturday’s opener at Tennessee has been released, and while there’s not a lot of surprises, it reveals that the Cavaliers’ offensive line is on the mend.

Sophomore McKale Boley, who had been hobbled by an ankle injury, is scheduled to start at left offensive tackle, where he gained some starting experience as a true freshman last season. That means Blake Steen, who was prepared to step in for Boley, is at backup, but can also play at the guard spot if necessary.

Noah Josey, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound junior, had also been banged up, but is slated to start at left guard beside Boley. Ugonna Nnanna, who transferred in from Houston, will start at right tackle, having started training camp at a guard spot.

Defensively, two of the transfers are slated to play the right corner spot. Sam Westfall, a 5-10, 183-pound grad student who started at SMU last season, or Malcolm Greene, a 5-10, 188-pound grad student who started some at Clemson, will work the right cornerback position.

Langston Long, a 6-3, 220-pound junior, will start at strong safety in place of the injured senior Antonio Clary.

Walk-on Matt Ganyard, a 34-year-old U.S. Marine helicopter pilot (see in-depth story here) is scheduled to be Virginia’s kickoff man. Ganyard is one of the nation’s “feel-good” stories in college football.

The full depth chart appears below.

Offense

WR — 8 Malachi Fields (6-4, 220 Jr.)
17 JR Wilson (6-4, 219 So.)

LT — 52 McKale Boley (6-4, 302 So.)
54 Blake Steen (6-5, 340 So.)
or 68 Jack Witmer (6-7, 285 Jr.)

LG — 77 Noah Josey (6-5, 315 Jr.)
78 Jestus Johnson III (6-3, 226 Jr.)

C — 51 Ty Furnish (6-3, 282 Jr.)
58 Noah Hartsoe (6-3, 311 So.)

RG — 55 Brian Stevens (6-2, 296 Gr.)
74 Noah DeMeritt (6-5, 357 So.)

RT — 71 Ugonna Nnanna (6-4, 309 Jr.)
60 Charlie Patterson (6-6, 296 Jr.)

TE — 44 Sackett Wood (6-4, 244 Jr.)
85 Grant Misch (6-6, 247 Sr.)

QB — 11 Tony Muskett (6-2, 206 Sr.)
10 Anthony Colandrea (5-11, 180 Fr.)

TB — 2 Perris Jones (5-7, 179 6th)
7 Mike Hollins (5-9, 204 Sr.)
5 Kobe Pace (5-10, 215 Sr.)

WR — 4 Malik Washington (5-8, 194 Gr.)
1 Suderian Harrison (5-9, 172 Fr.)

WR — 6 Demick Starling (6-0, 191 Sr.)
18 Jaden Gibson (6-0, 179 Fr.)

Defense

DE — 10 Ben Smiley (6-4, 270 5th)
96 Bryce Carter (6-3, 274 Jr.)

NT — 90 Jahmeer Carter (6-2, 312 Sr.)
19 Olasunkonmi Agunloye (6-4, 279 Sr.)

DT — 94 Aaron Faumui (6-2, 302 6th)
18 Michael Diatta (6-4, 279 Jr.)

Bandit — 82 Kam Butler (6-3, 262 6th)
1 Paul Akere (6-4, 250 Gr.)

MIKE — 7 James Jackson (6-3, 236 Jr.)
5 Kam Robinson (6-2, 227 Fr.)

WILL — 33 Josh Ahern (6-3, 236 5th)
2 Stevie Bracey (6-0, 227 So.)

LC — 9 Coen King (6-0, 194 6th)
6 Dre Walker (6-1, 183 Fr.)

RC — 13 Sam Westfall (5-10, 183 Gr.)
or 8 Malcolm Greene (5-10, 188 Gr.)

SPUR — 23 Tayvonn Kyle (5-11, 181 6th)
17 Aidan Ryan (6-1, 184 Jr.)

FS — 20 Jonas Sanker (6-1, 210 Jr.)
4 Dave Herard (6-0, 192 Sr.)

SS — 3 Langston Long (6-3, 220 Jr.)
31 Micah Gaffney (5-11, 193 Jr.)

Special Teams

P — 38 Daniel Sparks (6-6, 213 Sr.)
99 Elijah Slibeck (6-5, 237 Fr.)

PK — 41 Will Bettridge (5-10, 173 Fr.)
98 Matt Ganyard (5-11, 193 Gr.)
47 Vadin Bruot (5-11, 194 So.)

KO — 98 Matt Ganyard (5-11, 193 Gr.)
41 Will Bettridge (5-10, 173 Fr.)

Hold — 13 Jared Rayman (6-2, 191 5th)

LS — 45 Aidan Livingston (5-11, 231 Gr.)
32 Luke Byrne (6-1, 234 Jr.)

PR — 26 Ethan Davies (5-10, 189 Jr.)
1 Suderian Harrison (5-9, 172 Fr.)

KOR — 6 Demick Starling (6-0, 191 Sr.)
4 Malik Washington (5-8, 194 Gr.)