Names to Watch: Virginia
Virginia is a team that has added a lot of new faces to their 2025 roster. Here is a brief scouting report on several of the best players for the Cavaliers.
#4 Quarterback: Chandler Morris - Redshirt Senior - 6'0", 192 lbs
Coming in as a 3-time transfer from North Texas, new Virginia QB Chandler Morris offers a lot of experience and efficiency as the new starting QB for the Cavaliers. Having spent his freshman season at Oklahoma, followed by three seasons at TCU, and last season at North Texas, Morris is finally ready to be the starter of a power 4 team once more.
Morris had a strong 2024 season throwing for 3,774 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also showed some mobility as a runner with 242 rush yards and four rushing touchdowns in 2024. After a strong performance in their dominant win over a seemingly unprepared Coastal Carolina team, Chandler Morris will face his first true test against an NC State defense that played surprisingly well in week 1.
#28 Running Back: Noah Vaughn - Junior - 5'9", 199 lbs
Noah Vaughn is an elusive lead running back who had 10 carries for 45 rush yards against Coastal Carolina in week one. This will also be Vaughn’s first season as a full-time starter.
The only proven talent Virginia has at running back is NC Central transfer J’Mari Taylor who had a solid 2024 season for the Eagles. With Virginia he had just 10 carries for 32 rush yards but did have two rushing touchdowns last week.
So it’ll be interesting to see who Virginia leans more on for their run game against an NC State defense who allowed just 30 total rush yards against East Carolina last week.
#6 Wide Receiver: Cam Ross - Graduate - 5'10", 186 lbs
Cam Ross is a shifty, speedy receiver/kickoff returner for the Cavaliers. Having spent his first four seasons at UConn and last season at JMU, Ross has a lot of experience and is also familiar with NC State TE Justin Joly who was his former teammate at UConn.
He had seven catches for 124 yards, a receiving touchdown, and even a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Coastal Carolina. There’s no doubt that Ross is dangerous in the open field. If NC State wants to slow down Virginia’s offense, their tackling must continue to be strong.
#32 Linebacker: Landon Danley - Junior - 6'3", 222 lbs
Redshirt junior linebacker Landon Danley is a first time starter at the position for Virginia in 2025. Danley had seven total tackles, two solo tackles, and also had one TFL in last week's game against Coastal Carolina, leading the Cavaliers’ defense in tackles so far. Danley appears to be a strong run defender and could give NC State’s offensive line some issues in their gap scheme runs.
#14 EDGE: Fisher Camac - Senior - 6'7", 248 lbs
Fisher Camac is a highly productive transfer edge rusher from Nevada. His 6’7’’ 248 lbs frame will make him a problem in the run game and in pass rush. Camac totaled 46 total tackles, 25 solo tackles, 7.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss in 2024, a productive season for a 1st-time starter. Camac was also a player TE Justin Joly said stood out to him on film in his recent press conference. So it’ll be interesting to see how NC State will plan to minimize Camac’s impact for their upcoming game with the Wolfpack.
Additional Notes
- I expect Virginia to have the most success offensively through the air like East Carolina, but hopefully not as much after NC State will have had a week to improve. Virginia offers up a much more threatening receiver room including Cam Ross and Jahmal Edrine.
- Defensively, Virginia currently leads the ACC in points allowed per game by holding Coastal Carolina to just seven points last week. The Cavaliers total defense ranks 4th in the ACC, with their run defense ranking 7th and their pass defense ranking 5th.
- One player I believe is worth mentioning is Arizona transfer CB Emmanuel Karnley, who has a long 6’3’’ 184 lb frame and was able to tally 16 total tackles and five passes deflected last season. This is first season as a full-time starter, and he’ll have his work cut out for him against NC State’s receivers.
