Virginia
Five Standouts From the Virginia Football Spring Game
Virginia football put the finishing touches on spring practice with the annual Blue-White Game on Saturday at Scott Stadium. For what it’s worth, the White team earned a 17-10 victory over the Blue team behind two long touchdown passes from Tony Muskett.
As this was our first and only chance to see the Cavaliers on the field until the 2024 season begins on August 31st, here are our picks for five standouts from the Virginia football spring game:
Tony Muskett
We’re going to do our best not to overstate Virginia’s potential quarterback battle (at least not yet), but Tony Muskett is making that a difficult rule to follow. Anthony Colandrea had all the momentum entering the offseason as the rising sophomore made a bunch of electric plays as a freshman and is definitively the program’s QB of the future. Though Tony Elliott says that Muskett was still considered the starter even as he missed the last few games of the season with an injury, there was more energy around Colandrea being the starter for the 2024 season.
If there is a legitimate quarterback battle to be played out for the starting job, that will happen in fall camp. But if performances in April are to be taken into consideration, Tony Muskett certainly put his best foot forward. Working very hard just to recover from shoulder surgery in time to be able participate in spring practice, Muskett capped a solid spring with a very good showing in the spring game, completing 10 of 18 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Those two scores were both deep-ball strikes, a 56-yarder to JR Wilson and a 73-yarder to sophomore walk-on Claiborne Richards. Colandrea was no slouch, either, completing 15 of his 16 passes for 102 yards, but no touchdowns. It should be noted that neither Muskett nor Colandrea played in the second half, getting replaced by Grady Brosterhous and Gavin Frakes, respectively.
Tony Elliott might have a tough call to make this fall, but Virginia is in a great spot at the most important position on the field entering the 2024 season.
Virginia’s Wide Receiver Corps
Perhaps at the expense of the Cavalier secondary, which didn’t have its strongest day, there were bunch of impressive plays made by the UVA receiving corps. Talented and productive receivers have become a staple of Virginia football in the last several years and there were no signs during Saturday’s spring game of that trend stopping anytime soon. Even with Notre Dame transfer Chris Tyree sitting out and top returner receiver Malachi Fields making only one catch, there were a number of big plays made, especially in the first half when the starting quarterbacks were still in.
The most surprising play was made by little-known sophomore receiver Claiborne Richards, a preferred walk-on from Nashville, Tennessee. Richards capitalized on a busted coverage in the Blue team secondary and Muskett found him in the seam for a 73-yard touchdown. It was a fantastic game for Richards, who finished with six receptions for 118 yards and the touchdown. A less surprising big play came from JR Wilson, who has now hauled in a deep ball touchdown pass from Tony Muskett in each of the last two spring games. This time, it was a 56-yard catch-and-run for Wilson, who finished with three receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. Another notable performance came from Andre Greene Jr., as the North Carolina transfer and Richmond native had five catches for 65 yards in his first appearance in a Virginia uniform.
Expect the Cavalier wide receiver unit to once again be a point of strength for Virginia in 2024.
Suderian Harrison
We omitted Suderian Harrison from the previous section on wide receivers because, even though the sophomore wideout had a decent game catching passes from Anthony Colandrea, finishing with four receptions for 49 yards, it was a special teams play that stole the show. The lone touchdown of the game for the Blue Team came on the final play of the third quarter, as Harrison broke loose for a 90-yard punt return touchdown. We saw glimpses of big-time playmaker potential from Harrison in his freshman season and he could be primed for a breakout sophomore campaign this fall.
Noah Vaughn
Another skill position player from the 2023 recruiting class, redshirt freshman running back Noah Vaughn was the highlight of what was a quiet day for Virginia’s ground game, which makes sense considering most of the Cavalier starting offensive line was out. UVA’s strong, deep, and experienced defensive line dominated the low-scoring scrimmage, but the running back who managed to produce the most was Noah Vaughn, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries. With Kobe Pace being the only returner of UVA’s three main running backs from a season ago, Vaughn could find himself on the depth chart this fall.
Chico Bennett and Antonio Clary
Both Chico Bennett Jr. and Antonio Clary had injury-riddled 2023 seasons. Bennett played through his injuries, but experienced steep declines in his numbers as compared to his All-ACC honorable mention 2022 campaign. Clary tried to play multiple times throughout the season, but ultimately missed the entire year with an ankle injury. Both players are back healthy and ready to resume their roles as the veteran leaders of the UVA defense, as they have a combined 69 games of college football played in their careers.
If Bennett and Clary were eager to return to the field, they certainly showed it on Saturday, leading their respective teams in tackles. Bennett had seven total tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss, including one on Vaughn to force a turnover on downs in the red zone. Clary, meanwhile, led all players in the spring game with eight total tackles in his first live-game action in nearly a year and a half. The Cavaliers are hoping for fully-healthy seasons for both players, so that Bennett and Clary can spearhead Virginia’s defensive efforts this fall.
Honorable Mention: Ethan Minter
Ethan Minter made the cut in our “What to Watch For” preview of the spring game as one of seven true freshmen who enrolled in January and participated in spring practice. The coaching staff have raved about Minter, who transitioned from quarterback to safety since arriving at UVA, and on Saturday we got to see why. Minter showed off his athleticism by covering ground quickly and making several impressive plays, finishing tied for second on the White team with six tackles.
Virginia
Virginia hospital halts NICU admissions after babies found with ‘unexplainable fractures’
A hospital in Virginia shut down its neonatal intensive care unit after three pre-term babies were found with “unexplainable fractures” – more than a year after several newborns suffered similar injuries.
Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond paused all admissions to its NICU and initiated an internal investigation after medical officials made the disturbing discovery in late November and December.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are not admitting any additional babies into our NICU at this time,” the hospital said in a statement on its website, adding that it informed families, authorities and regulatory agencies of their findings.
“While fractures occasionally happen with pre-term babies since they lack full fetal bone development, we are actively working to determine how these fractures occurred.”
The medical center said the injuries shared similarities to an incident involving four babies last summer, explaining that they are taking immediate steps to enhance safety measures in the hospital wing.
Safety improvements include mandatory training for staff who interact with minors, refined examinations, new security, an observer system, and live-streaming technology allowing parents to view their babies.
Footage from the NICU has also been provided to “proper authorities,” with healthcare professionals reviewing hospital surveillance, the medical center said.
“The process is thorough and time-consuming, but they are making steady progress,” the hospital wrote.
“So far during our review of the videos, no misconduct or accidental actions have been found. The safety of our NICU babies is our highest priority and we are actively working to pursue additional precautions to prevent any future incidents.”
The Virginia Department of Health, along with state police, is also probing the unsettling situation, according to Fox Richmond.
Henrico police said no charges have been filed.
“Henrico County is prepared to utilize all available resources to ensure a thorough investigation,” police said in a statement to the outlet.
“Henrico police are partnering with Child Protective Services within Henrico’s Department of Social Services, Virginia State Police, and the Virginia Health Department, and the Attorney General’s Office to ensure all evidence is examined meticulously.”
Virginia
Obituary for Virginia Kay Gregory at EVARTS FUNERAL HOME
Virginia
West Virginia Pursuing Big-Name Talent in the Transfer Portal • The Voice Of Motown
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — New West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez has been hard at work putting together his staff, attempting to keep players on the current roster, and finding players in the transfer portal.
Since Neal Brown was fired earlier this month, West Virginia has lost 18 players to the transfer portal, including Jaylen Anderson, Ryder Burton, Raleigh Collins, Hudson Clement, TJ Crandall, CJ Donaldson, Will Dixon, Aiden Ellis, Ric’Darious Farmer, Ayden Garnes, Josiah Jackson, Trey Lathan, Sullivan Weidman, Tomas Rimac, Bryce Briggs, Josiah Trotter, Johnny Williams IV and Obinna Onwuka.
Since Rodriguez has taken over, he has brought two players from Jacksonville State – former Martinsburg High School players Jarod Bowie and Jacob Barrick – as well as Tulsa offensive line transfer Walter Young Bear, Jordan Scruggs, a cornerback from South Alabama and Oran Singleton, a wide receiver from Eastern Michigan.
Rodriguez now has his eyes set on several players who are set to Morgantown in the coming weeks. Here’s who West Virginia is currently targeting in the transfer portal:
1. Cam Vaughn: Vaughn tells me that he has already visited West Virginia, but has other visits set up in the coming days. Vaughn, a freshman from Temple, Georgia, 49 receptions for 804 yards and 5 touchdowns last season under Rodriguez at Jacksonville State. Vaughn is a big (6’2) receiver with great speed who would be a perfect big-play receiver for the Mountaineers. (8/10 confidence)
2. Fred Perry: Perry, a 5’11 safety from Vienna, Georgia, is another former Jacksonville State player who has visited West Virginia since Rodriguez became the head coach of the Mountaineers. An All-Conference player last year, Perry finished his junior year with 97 tackles (42 solo), nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. (9/10 confidence)
3. Hauss Hejny: Hejny, a 6’0 freshman quarterback from Aledo, Texas, Hejny had 15 rushes for 65 yards at TCU during his freshman season, but did not throw a pass. Hejny has followed several WVU-related accounts over the last couple of days on social media and clearly has interest, but it remains to be seen if West Virginia has the same level of interest. Since entering the portal last week, Hejny has reportedly been contacted by BYU, James Madison, UCF, Utah, and Utah State. Hejny would be an ideal backup to presumed starting quarterback Nicco Marchiol, but he may want to play immediately. With elite speed and athleticism, Hejny could make his way on the field next season in certain spots while he develops under Marchiol for the next two seasons. West Virginia has its starter, but will need to add depth with freshman Khalil Wilkins not yet ready to step in to lead the program yet. (7/10 confidence)
4. David Pantelis: In four seasons with Yale, David Pantelis has 127 career receptions 1,778 career receiving yards, and 17 career touchdowns. That’s an average of 14 yards per reception. He also averaged 52.3 yards per game. Pantelis was exceptional in 2024, finishing the season with 69 receptions for 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games. (8/10 confidence)
5. Adam Tomczyk: A 6’3 250 pound defensive end, Tomczyk is an under-the-radar player who the coaching staff has identified as a Power 4 talent who can contribute immediately. According to his social media footprint, Tomczyk and West Virginia have major mutual interest right now. (9/10 confidence)
6. Matthew Henry: A 6’1 wide receiver from Miami, Florida, Henry had 63 receptions for 1,179 yards and 6 touchdowns this season at Western Illinois before entering the transfer portal. Henry is an ultra-talented receiver who has a ton of experience. (8/10 confidence)
7. Mo Westmoreland II: A two-time JUCO All-American, 2 time Conference USA first team All-Conference player and Conference USA’s Sack Leader in 2024 with 7.5 sacks, Westmoreland is an experienced, proven player on the defensive line that West Virginia is very high on. (9/10 confidence)
8. Chris Henry, Jr.: The son of former West Virginia wide receiver Chris Henry and the “nephew” of Adam “Pacman” Jones, Henry, Jr. is the #1 rated wide receiver, the #1 player in California and the #6 overall rated player in the nation, and is reportedly being heavily recruited by Rodriguez and the Mountaineers. Although he is currently still “locked in” as a commit at Ohio State, there are multiple programs, including West Virginia, attempting to steal him from the Buckeyes. Henry recently told national recruiting analyst Tom Loy that Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama and West Virginia are all heavily pursuing him, despite his current commitment to Ohio State. On his interest in West Virginia, Henry said, “Rich Rod coached my pops (the late Chris Henry, Sr.) and my uncle (Adam “Pacman” Jones). It’s West Virginia.” (5/10 confidence)
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