Tony Muskett Day To Day For Virginia Football Team

When starting quarterback Tony Muskett went down during the season opener with Tennessee, it certainly was not an ideal scenario for the Virginia football team. As the only QB to appear in a college game entering the season, UVA planned to rely on his experience for the 2023 season. That plan is still intact.

Muskett left Saturday’s game with his non-throwing left arm limp and returned to the sideline after a brief locker room visit still keeping that arm close to him. Virginia coach Tony Elliott said after the game that it was a shoulder injury that would require more x-rays after the team returned home. The Hoos got some good news when they returned to Charlottesville.

“Tony’s day to day” Elliott said. “He’s getting more range of motion in his shoulder, but you know, he wants to play. He’s pushing to play. Each day is encouraging, but right now he’s day to day with the shoulder.”

If Muskett can’t play, true freshman Anthony Colandrea would get the start. He likely would embrace the moment. Grady Brosterhous would be the back-up quarterback with Jared Rayman available as well. Delaney Crawford, who moved to receiver in fall camp, could pivot back to quarterback in an emergency situation.

The hope, of course, is that Muskett makes enough progress to play. Muskett showed flashes in the opener for why the Cavaliers brought him in from Monmouth as a transfer. He had a couple of nice throws between the seams to Malachi Fields and some on-target quick stuff to Malik Washington. Even an early incompletion that targeted Fields on the sideline was well placed, but Tennessee’s defensive back broke it up at the last moment.

Muskett finished 9-of-17 passing for 94 yards, which certainly isn’t a robust number. Given the offensive line’s struggles, however, the poise and decision-making shown in the face of heavy pressure while also dealing with low snaps made his performance more notable than the stats themselves. Pro Football Focus seemed to agree as it gave Muskett a 63.9 overall grade and a 65.2 passing grade. Both sit in the average range on their scales.

The Hoos will need that calm presence and more production if Muskett is good to go Saturday. James Madison got tagged as early favorites (in the 7.5-point range depending on individual sportsbooks). The 6’2”, 210-pounder posted 5,687 passing yards (5th in school history), 51 passing touchdowns (5th in school history), and a 150.14 passing efficiency (1st in school history) while at Monmouth so Virginia hopes he can generate some bigger numbers moving forward.

Elliott said Muskett showed some things against Tennessee that gave glimpses of what the Hoos hope is possible on offense.

“I thought first and foremost, being in that situation because that’s the first time he’s played in front of that many people in that environment, I thought he handled the situation and the environment well,” Elliott said. “He looked very poised in the pocket early on. Man, he stepped up and he had guys barreling down and he hit a couple of dig routes across the middle that he threaded with a needle so he did those things well. I thought his in-game demeanor was good throughout the course of the game. There were a couple of things that I would like to see [be better], a couple decisions in the run game with RPOs that were part of the game plan. Again, their athleticism can quickly fool you. But I thought he managed the situation well, I thought his leadership was there because you don’t know until that moment. His leadership was there and he made some throws that let me know that if we can protect him, that he’s going to be able to help us win some football games.”