A year ago, Matt Johns entered fall training camp with the Virginia football team as the expected backup at quarterback. By the end of the month, Johns had burst on to the scene against UCLA and forced what became an ongoing quarterback conversation.

This August, Johns began fall training camp as the definitive starter. The two QBs he previously battled for snaps, Greyson Lambert and David Watford, each transferred out of the program, leaving only Johns with any significant experience on the roster. Johns isn’t letting the change in roles change his mindset, though.

“It’s fun. This is what you work hard for and fortunately it paid off,” Johns said. “It doesn’t stop here, though. I still have to prepare like I’m the backup quarterback or even third or fourth because that’s what got me here.”

The UVa coaching staff turned to Johns as a starter three times last season when Lambert was injured. He attempted 162 passes on the season and his statistics as a whole are an interesting mix. Johns passed for 1,109 yards with eight touchdowns and he posted a 122.57 efficiency number. On the opposite side of the ledger, he completed just 54.9% of his attempts (89-162) and threw five interceptions.

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