Kurt Benkert Named Virginia’s Starter

Virginia football quarterback Kurt Benkert.
Kurt Benkert has earned the starting quarterback job for the Virginia football team. ~ Kris Wright

Virginia football fans have eagerly awaited news about this season’s starting quarterback and Wednesday they got the answer. Coach Bronco Mendenhall announced that Kurt Benkert has been named the starter in what will be the debut season for both at UVA. Mendenhall took over the program after leaving BYU in December, while Benkert landed in Charlottesville this summer after transferring from East Carolina.

The Cavaliers open the season with Richmond at Scott Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 3:30 p.m.

“I’ve really been impressed with how he’s moved the team,” Mendenhall said. ”When I look at a quarterback, what I look first and foremost for is ‘Do they move the team into the end zone?’ Because points determine outcome. Kurt has been the one consistently and [who] can continue to be consistent in moving our team forward regardless of the type and caliber of opponent we play. He’s a good decision maker with a very strong arm and natural leadership skills.”

Mendenhall also indicated that Matt Johns and Connor Brewer will be listed as ‘or’ options at back-up quarterback. Johns, the 2015 starter in all 12 games, and Brewer, the 2015 back-up, came out of the spring tied in the quarterback competition.

Johns has 15 career starts. He threw for 2,810 passing yards last season, No. 3 all-time at UVA for passing yards in a season, and 20 touchdowns, tied with Aaron Brooks and Dan Ellis for No. 4 all-time in the Virginia football program for passing touchdowns in a season. He was only the second Cavalier to throw for at least 200 yards in five of his first six career starts, joining Matt Blundin.

Brewer has limited experience in college games. He appeared in two games for the Hoos last season and two games for Arizona in 2015. He transferred to Virginia as a graduate student with two years remaining ahead of the 2015 season. Brewer has completed 4 of 8 passes for 34 yards so far at UVA, accounting for the only pass attempts of his college career. In high school, he threw for 7,574 yards and 100 touchdowns, the latter of which is an Arizona high school record.

Mendenhall said the competition this preseason has left him feeling much better about the quarterback position both in terms of depth and ability. He said both back-up options have strengths and that’s why they’re being listed as an ‘or’ possibility.

“That I would see continuing week to week and through the season,” Mendenhall said. ”I like them both. Connor very efficient how he throws it and Matt with his leadership and experience, neither one can be counted out. They have also handled this really well. Based on production, based on the communication that Coach [Jason] Beck has had on a day-by-day basis, that’s where we are going into week one. I think our quarterbacks understand and our team understands.”

Benkert arrived to the QB competition this summer thanks to a twist of fate. He had won the starting quarterback job at ECU last fall before a knee injury late in fall camp ended his season. That was followed by a change in coaches – current UVA associate head coach and defensive line coach Ruffin McNeill was let go at ECU after the 2015 season – and Benkert did not win the job in spring practice there. When he received his release from East Carolina, Mendenhall recalled Wednesday that he asked McNeill about his former QB.

Once Benkert chose to come to Virginia, he dove head first into preparation. With Mendenhall and offensive coordinator Robert Anae installing a similar offense from his time with the Pirates, the transition was a little easier in that regard. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

“I think not only his knowledge of the offense, but Kurt is as cliche as it sounds a student of the game,” Mendenhall said. “From the minute he arrived on campus, 7 a.m. each and every day at the office much like it was a professional. That’s where he’s spending the day. He’s married. He came here with a sense of purpose not only to further his education as a student, but to start his family and to play great football. We have a need. Really intrigued by the idea that he has two seasons not just one in terms of where our program is.”

Benkert has an edge when evaluating physical skills with Johns and Brewer. He has a stronger arm for deeper throws or more powerful short throw. He has a quicker release that allows the ball to get out quickly whether he is on the run or not. He appears to be at least a little bit more mobile than his competition too – Mendenhall called him a “heady” or “crafty” runner that knows how to move the chains, but noted that Benkert makes good decisions on when to scramble as a pass-first quarterback. At approximately 235 pounds, Benkert checks in 20 pounds bigger than Johns and 40 pounds bigger than Brewer.

Benkert, like Brewer, has limited college experience. He appeared in three games during his only season of action in 2014. He completed 8 of 10 passes for 58 yards and rushed five times for 23 yards. He scored two rushing touchdowns and led three scoring drives overall. At Island Coast High School in Florida, Benkert threw for 2,261 yards as a senior with a 62.3% completion mark (147 of 236). He had 20 touchdown passes and four interceptions. Of note, he transferred into ICHS as a senior and helped he team averaged 34.4 points per game.

Ultimately, that last piece of the puzzle is what decided a close competition during preseason camp for the Virginia football team.

”The dynamic ability of Kurt to score and score more often with our team was really the difference,” Mendenhall said. ”We’re just scoring more often and that’s helps give us our best chance.”