New University of Virginia football head coach Tony Elliott received some big news on Thursday (January 13), when quarterback Brennan Armstrong announced his plans to return to UVA for the 2022 season. Armstrong was considering entering the 2022 NFL Draft.
Armstrong, a redshirt junior, exploded this past season, his second as Virginia’s starting quarterback. The lefty signal caller established seven new school records in 2021, including …
– Career 300-yard passing games (11)
– Season Total Offense (4,700 yards)
– Season Passing (4,449 yards)
– Season Passing Touchdowns (31)
– Season Passing Completions (326)
– Single-Game Total Offense (538 yards vs. UNC)
– Single-Game Passing (554 yards vs. UNC)
Armstrong headlines an impressive returning group of skill position players returning for the Hoos next season. Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks is set to return. In 2021 he broke Virginia’s single-season receiving yardage record previously held by the legendary Herman Moore. Six-foot-seven sophomore wideout Lavel Davis Jr., who missed the 2021 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL suffered last spring, will be back as well. The South Carolina native impressed in 2020 as Armstrong’s top big-play target. Senior Billy Kemp IV, a vital part of the Virginia passing game the past two seasons, has said he plans to return to college next season. He did not specifically say UVA, but he has not entered the transfer portal. “Football player” Keytaon Thompson is eligible to return too, although he has not announced a decision regarding his future.
With Armstrong and a highly talented group of wide receivers as well as a promising running back corps led by Mike Hollins, Tony Elliott boasts one of the ACC’s top offensive skill position groups in 2022. UVA’s first-year head coach does have work to do to on offense, though, starting with the offensive line. The Hoos lost the top six rotational players, including four full-time starters, from last season’s offensive line. Elliott, offensive line coach Garett Tujague and company are working the transfer portal and recruiting circuit hard to rebuild the position. Virginia also needs to replace dynamic starting tight end Jelani Woods, who declared for the NFL Draft.
Virginia projects to have three scholarship quarterbacks in 2022, including Armstrong, rising sophomore Jay Woolfolk, and incoming freshman Davis Lane. Lane is enrolling on Grounds for the 2022 Spring Semester, so he will be able to take part in practice this spring.
Great news!
Somebody pay that man.