133 days after Virginia football last took the field on a cold night in Blacksburg, they emerged from the locker room once again for the 2025 Spring Football Game. With positional battles underway and the Cavaliers split into two sides, the White team defeated the Blue team 17-9.
While a spring scrimmage is far from a meaningful indicator of regular season success, it can offer a valuable glimpse at Virginia’s new additions. For the first time, two new quarterbacks — graduate student Chandler Morris and sophomore Daniel Kaelin — played for the public at Scott Stadium.
With the two pitted against each other, Morris outdueled Kaelin by throwing for 155 yards to Kaelin’s 67. However, both quarterbacks also displayed a good scrambling ability, a trait that many of Virginia’s recent quarterbacks have had.
Another key addition shined in the running game as well. Graduate running back J’Mari Taylor — a transfer from North Carolina Central — was a driving force behind the Blue team’s offense. He received numerous carries early on, helping the Blue team get into the redzone on the first drive and totaling 52 yards on the day in nine carries. Taylor will look to create a formidable running back duo in the fall with senior Xavier Brown, who rushed for 488 yards in 2024.
The Blue team defense showed out early in the game, with senior linebacker Stevie Bracey forcing a fumble from sophomore tight end Hayden Rollison that was recovered in the redzone by junior defensive lineman Hunter Osborne. Bracey also recorded a safety at the end of the game.
Redzone struggles plagued the Blue team’s offense, however, as their first two possessions ended in a turnover on downs and a missed field goal, something they would come to regret later.
Penalties were a clear problem for both sides, with holding calls and pass interference flags flying left and right. In the end, the teams combined for seven penalties. While it is still spring and the team is adjusting, this is not a new problem for the Cavaliers — Virginia committed the 32nd most penalties of any team in 2024, a mark which they will hope to improve upon in 2025.
Both teams failed to convert on fourth down in the redzone within the first half, leading to the score being 3-0 in favor of the White team at halftime when it could have been much higher. That being said, the success of both defenses was enough on third and fourth downs to halt drives with their backs up against the wall.
“I would love to have seen about 10 more points on each side in the first half,” Coach Tony Elliott said. “I need us to be finishing drives in the redzone with touchdowns and field goals.”
Another positive Saturday was that unlikely heroes stepped up. Namely, sophomore defensive end Billy Koudelka had a whopping four sacks for the White team. Another defender, safety Armstrong Jones, was a heavy hitter all day — breaking up two passes and halting receivers in their tracks.
“Everybody sees the splash plays,” Elliott said. “But also where [Koudelka] has grown in his ability to set the edge in the run game when we need him to.”
On the other side of the field, sophomore receiver Kam Courtney performed well. He caught the first touchdown of the game for the White team, showing that he might climb up the depth chart in the fall. Graduate running back Owen Gardner and senior running back Davis Lane Jr. also scored one touchdown each.
Overall, Saturday’s game emphasized the strengths and weaknesses that are to be expected with this Cavalier squad. Both of the starting quarterbacks flashed their talent, and the multitude of transfers on the defensive side of the ball, combined with the existing talent, should lead to a much-improved unit in 2025. However, a lack of clutch play-making ability from skill players and the number of penalties remain a problem.
While the season is still a while away, it gets closer day by day. Virginia can learn from its first public showing, and head back to the drawing board over the next few months. The Cavaliers will kick off their 2025 campaign Aug. 30 with a home game against Coastal Carolina.
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