By Jerry Ratcliffe

It is written that offensive linemen respect, if not love quarterbacks who can take a hit.

That’s why Virginia’s linemen will go to war for their quarterback, Chandler Morris.

Wahoo fans will remember the end of the Louisville game, Morris taking off and trying to score the game-winning touchdown in overtime. At 6-foot, 190 pounds, he’s not a physical specimen, but was willing to put it all on the line on a 7-yard run where he was slammed into the turf, hit simultaneously by three Louisville defenders at the 2-yard line.

“Thought he was dead on the sideline when I saw him laying there and he was like, motionless,” quipped Cavaliers center Drake Metcalf. “That just goes into the mentality of you have to be willing to put your life on the line every time you step on the football field. I think it was Lyle Alzado who said, football is not a game, it’s war. You’re going out there to destroy the guy across from you.”

After doctors and trainers checked Morris out, he had to leave the game for one play and Virginia scored on the very next snap to win the game. Morris said a few days ago that he could have returned to the game if necessary.

That’s just what Tony Elliott means when he keeps referring to his quarterback as a warrior.

Morris has sacrificed himself several times this season, i.e. the opening game against Coastal Carolina when he injured his non-throwing shoulder by trying to hurl himself into the end zone to score rather than take the safe slide. His shoulder never healed, so he has played hurt all season long, but never complains.

The QB felt the injury at Carolina last Saturday, diving to make a tackle after being intercepted. Still, like the old Timex watch commercial, he took a licking and kept on ticking.

“That’s just kind of how I’ve been,” Morris said last week before heading to Chapel Hill. “I mean, I’ve grown up in a kind of a tough family. We’ve been through a lot of things and have faced some adversity, and just kind of seeing the way that the people I look up to kind of handle those things and the competitor in me, too.

“I just want to go win football games. I don’t care how ugly, pretty. Throw for 400, throw for 100. I really don’t care. I just want to win, and it being my last year, that’s what’s most important to me … going and winning.”

This is the sixth year of college football for the 24-year old. It started at Oklahoma in 2020, then three years at TCU (he played in only three games in 2022 because of an injury), then last year at North Texas, now Virginia.

Critics scoffed when Morris arrived in Charlottesville, which hadn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2019, declaring that he didn’t come all the way here from Texas to lose.

“I came here to win a championship,” Morris declared.

Virginia is 7-1, sitting atop the ACC standings at 3-0 and ranked No. 15 nationally, its highest since 2004.

While he’s thrived in the passing game (he entered the season ranked No. 15 among active college passers and now has 9,811 career yards), Morris is less than 200 yards from reaching 1,000 career rushing yards.

Opposing coaches speak of how dangerous the veteran quarterback is because he’s not only a lethal passer who keeps his eyes downfield when plays fall apart, but can run for first downs and more on scrambles or designated QB runs.

“It helps that I’ve got legs that I can use with my athletic ability,” Morris said. “Then also, too, I’m really confident on throwing on the run. I think I can put the ball wherever I want to while I’m on the run. So just having those two things and understanding if it’s not there, being able to tuck it down and go get some yards with my legs is really helpful.”

It can also be risky, just ask Metcalf.

“Obviously, once Chandler is out of the pocket, us big boys up front can’t do much for him down the road … your private escort leaves you at that point,” Metcalf said. “So good luck, may God be with you when you’re running down the field. I hope that our perimeter blockers are taking care of business.”

Tight end Sage Ennis can testify to what Morris was saying about confidence in spraying the football all over the field, even when on the run, when things break down.

“He’s got a quick release, so when he throws the ball, it’s out of there fast,” Ennis said. “He’s got some different arm angles that he’ll throw the ball out of. I mean, I was watching film the other night and when we went tempo and Stanford brought full-house pressure, an all-out blitz and the linebacker came free. Chandler rolls out to the right, is able to escape the pressure and has Trell Harris in the end zone. He puts it on a rope, on a laser, and I watch how far the throw was … it’s about a 40-yard throw, and he’s rolling out and he’s slinging this ball on the money, right to his guy. It’s just unbelievable.”

Ennis said Morris trusts himself, is confident, knowing he’s got the arm power, plus trusts his wide receivers down the field to make catches.

Elliott said a few days ago that, yeah, Morris is playing hurt, and while that bum shoulder may linger, it’s not going to stop him.

“At the end of the day, there’s nobody in that locker room that wants to play their best more than Chandler,” Elliott said.

Even if he does lose his big-boy convoy racing down the sidelines.