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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Virginia

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03/05/23 - Tony Muskett, rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

Upon his choice to depart FCS Monmouth and test whether or not the transfer portal would yield interest from the top level of the sport, Tony Muskett said he always had a frontrunner in mind. "It was top of my list. It's my home school. It's my home state," the now-Virginia quarterback said Thursday. Muskett is in the midst of readying for spring practice with the Cavaliers, who he grew up watching and even through his high school days while starring at West Springfield in Northern Virginia would've liked to play for if the circumstances were right. He had the chance to join the Hoos then, too, he said. According to Muskett, UVa's pursuit of him as a transfer in December wasn't the program's first time courting the quarterback. Former UVa staffer Donte Wilkins - in the Cavaliers' recruiting department then and now the defensive line coach at Lafayette - recruited Muskett and presented him a spot on the roster.

"But I had already committed to Monmouth, so I wanted to honor my commitment," said Muskett, whose lone FBS scholarship offer as a high schooler was from Coastal Carolina. He said at the time, he never could've imagined an opportunity to play for UVa would come his way again. "Because coming out of high school, the transfer portal wasn't nearly as big as it is now," Muskett said, "and I just tried to focus on the present. I tried to be where my feet are." That strategy worked well for the 6-foot-2, 210-pound signal-caller. Muskett was a two-time first-team All-Big South choice with the Hawks and finished his 23-game stay with Monmouth having thrown for 5,687 yards and 51 touchdowns. His tear through the Big South - before the Hawks' conference switch to the Colonial Athletic Association this past fall - didn't go unnoticed. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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QB Tony Muskett, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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03/03/23 - Malik Washington, rSr/2024, Virginia + More +

Virginia is filling a void on the fly, and the Cavaliers are hoping Malik Washington allows them to do so effectively. He's the much-needed veteran wide receiver they added to an extremely inexperienced unit of pass-catchers. "It's something I embrace," Washington said, "because it's a role I've had almost my entire life. I'm someone who people are comfortable being around, so I want to make sure I continue that as I take my journey to UVa." "I think it was so important because we do have a young group," first-year UVa wide receivers coach Adam Mims said about securing the commitment and enrollment of Washington, who is already in Charlottesville ahead of spring practice, which begins later this month.

"We have a group of guys who are essentially unproven," Mims said, "so, having an older guy who has shown success and production, I think that's going to help us in the long run. Not only on the field, but off the field, too." Washington spent the first four years of his career at Northwestern, where his 65 receptions this past fall were the sixth most for any Big Ten receiver. Over 40 total games with the Wildcats, he logged 120 catches for 1,348 yards. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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WR Malik Washington, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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03/01/23 - Kam Butler, rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

Senior defensive end Kam Butler expressed a similar sentiment and said "absolutely" UVa is capable of changing its trajectory for the better. Butler joined the Cavaliers last season as a graduate transfer from Miami (Ohio) and is only back for 2023 because he's taking advantage of the extra year the NCAA granted UVa players whose eligibility would've expired after this past fall. The NCAA made that ruling on the heels of the November shooting, which tragically killed former Cavaliers Lavel Davis Jr., D'Sean Perry and Devin Chandler.

Butler's original plan prior to gaining the sixth year in college football, he said, was to finish his master's degree in higher education this spring while simultaneously training for the NFL with UVa's strength coaches. For now, he's gladly put the pro dream on hold. "I wanted to get back with the team," he said. "I started building some great relationships with people off the field on the administrative side of things for the athletic department and I wanted to build on those relationships going forward, too, and I like the strength staff here. I like the coaching staff here, so I feel like it would've been weird to not come back or not right for me to go somewhere else." His sense is there are enough returning players with experience to enforce the practice habits and expectations Elliott introduced to the Hoos last year as well as to teach coordinator John Rudzinski's defense, which the Cavaliers improved while using last year, to new additions on the team. Most notably, the defensive line is filled with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year players with Butler and Aaron Faumui, Chico Bennett Jr., Jahmeer Carter and Paul Akere. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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DE Kam Butler, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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01/18/23 - Tayvonn Kyle, rSr/2024, Virginia + More +

The Virginia football team continued adding to its secondary over the weekend, gaining a commitment from former Iowa State cornerback Tayvonn Kyle. Kyle announced his decision via Instagram on Sunday night, becoming the second transfer defensive back the Cavaliers have added since the transfer portal window opened in early December. The 5-foot-11 defender spent the past five years with the Cyclones, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in 2019 and 2020. Over the course of his career there, he played in 42 games and made 12 starts with 10 of those coming at cornerback.

He was a starter and regular contributor for the Cyclones when they won the Fiesta Bowl and finished ranked No. 9 nationally on the heels of reaching the Big 12 title game in 2020. That season, he tallied 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a team-best six pass breakups. For the entirety of his stay in Ames, Kyle racked up 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss, an interception and 12 pass breakups. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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CB Tayvonn Kyle, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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01/13/23 - Ugonna Nnanna, rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

The offseason reboot for Virginia's offensive line continued on Thursday when the Cavaliers gained a commitment from former Houston offensive guard/tackle Ugonna Nnanna. He announced his decision on Twitter. Nnanna spent the past three seasons with the Cougars before entering the transfer portal last month. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder appeared in games against Rice and Tulane this past season after playing in three contests the season before and one in his first year at Houston. In spite of his limited experience, Nnanna was a target of many FBS programs while in the portal. He earned 17 total offers, including 14 from FBS schools with offers notably coming from Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Marshall. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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OG Ugonna Nnanna, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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12/28/22 - Perris Jones, rSr/2024, Virginia + More +

On Tuesday, veteran Perris Jones, who started eight times at the position this past fall, announced on Twitter he'll play a sixth season with the Cavaliers in 2023. "When I set foot on campus," Jones wrote, "I had a set of goals that I planned on accomplishing. While I have been blessed to accomplish the basics, I still have some goals on the table that need to be crossed off. With that being said, I would like to announce that I will be returning to UVa, exercising my last year of eligibility." In August, Jones emerged as UVa's top running back option during training camp to earn the team's starting job.

Before this past season, Jones, a former walk-on, had only registered three career carries and was briefly moved - out of necessity - to defensive back in 2021, but his work ethic and understanding of Cavaliers coach Tony Elliott's offense propelled Jones forward to make an impact on the 2022 squad at his natural position. Jones ran 81 times for 365 yards and a pair of touchdowns and also hauled in six catches for 43 yards and two more scores this past season. He had standout performances against Richmond and at Syracuse. Versus the Spiders, he racked up 104 rushing yards and a touchdown along with a receiving touchdown, and against the Orange, he ran for 87 yards and a score. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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RB Perris Jones, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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12/22/22 - Chico Bennett Jr., rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

Not only did Virginia officially add to its roster during the start of the early signing period on Wednesday, Cavaliers coach Tony Elliott also announced 10 key upperclassmen will return to the team, too. "So, obviously I know we lost some guys," Elliott said, "going into the portal, but we also had a good number of guys that decided that they want to come back and make another run at it." Elliott said defensive end Kam Butler and defensive lineman Aaron Faumui will take the NCAA up on the extra year of eligibility it granted all UVa players whose eligibility would've expired after this past season. Butler announced his intentions to earlier this month, but Faumui hadn't. The pair combined for 68 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Those two on the defensive front aren't the only ones at that position who will be back either. Defensive end Paul Akere, as well as defensive end Chico Bennett Jr., are returning as well, according to Elliott. Elliott said Akere, after spending this past fall with the Hoos following four seasons at Columbia, had job opportunities and could've entered the working world. Bennett, following a breakout campaign in which he tallied 34 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, probably would've had an opportunity to play pro football. Others choosing to spend another year with the Hoos include tight ends Grant Misch and Sackett Wood Jr. as well as defensive backs Antonio Clary and Coen King and linebackers Josh Ahern and Hunter Stewart. Misch, Wood, Clary, King and Ahern were all starters at different times throughout the 2022 season for Cavaliers. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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DE Chico Bennett Jr., Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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12/18/22 - Kam Butler, rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

At least one veteran member of the Virginia football program will take the NCAA up on its offer. On Thursday, senior defensive end Kam Butler announced on Instagram that he'd return to UVa for his second season with the Hoos and his sixth year in the sport. Butler, who transferred to UVa from Miami (Ohio) ahead of last season, racked up 29 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two forced fumbles in his first campaign with the Cavaliers this past fall. He's the first team member whose eligibility would've ended this year to announce a decision to return to UVa. Last week, The Daily Progress reported the NCAA would grant any Virginia football player whose college eligibility expired this past season an extra year to play as a response to the shooting on Grounds that killed three teammates last month. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

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DE Kam Butler, Virginia
News Source: Charlottesville Daily Progress
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12/07/22 - Jack Camper, rSr/2023, Virginia + More +

The NCAA will grant any Virginia football player whose college eligibility expired this past season an extra year to play, a response to the shooting on Grounds that killed three teammates, UVa athletic director Carla Williams confirmed Wednesday. Virginia initiated and submitted the request, she said. The decision from the NCAA comes in the aftermath of last month's tragic shooting on Grounds in Charlottesville that killed wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler and linebacker D Sean Perry. The Cavaliers, who finished 3-7 in their first year under coach Tony Elliott, canceled their last two games of the campaign - a non-conference contest against Coastal Carolina and their annual rivalry game at Virginia Tech - after the shooting. Instead of playing football on those days, UVa players and coaches gathered for a public memorial service to honor the lives of Davis, Chandler and Perry.

Per the Virginia roster, players who completed their final year of eligibility this past season include wide receivers Billy Kemp IV and Keytaon Thompson, defensive backs Darrius Bratton and Anthony Johnson, defensive ends Kam Butler and Jack Camper, and defensive tackle Devontae Davis. Not all will use the extra year, though. Johnson and Kemp have already declared for the NFL Draft. Johnson was a sixth-year senior this past fall and will play in the Senior Bowl this coming February. Kemp was a fifth-year senior this past season. - The Daily Progress

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DE Jack Camper, Virginia
News Source: Daily Progress
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12/06/22 - Keytaon Thompson, rSr/2023, Virginia + More +

2022 ALL-ACC FOOTBALL THIRD TEAM: WR - Keytaon Thompson, Virginia, 50 votes,...For the second-straight season, Thompson was UVA's top pass catcher. In eight games played, he had 53 receptions and 579 yards. Thompson's 6.6 receptions per game were the second-most of any ACC receiver. He caught a pass in the final seven games he played and his 72.4 receiving yards were the sixth most by any ACC wideout. - Virginia Football

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WR Keytaon Thompson, Virginia
News Source: Virginia Football
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12/06/22 - Daniel Sparks, rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

2022 ALL-ACC FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: P - Daniel Sparks, Virginia, 97 votes,...Sparks matched the UVA single-season punting average record, with a 46.8 yard per kick average in 2022. He was named the ACC co-Specialist of the week on Nov. 15 after he punted eight times for 409 yards against Pitt. He had three 60+ yard punts in the contest, the only UVA punter ever with three 60-yarders in a game. Of his 46 punts on the year 12 landed inside the 20 and 14 were 50 or more yards. - Virginia Football

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P Daniel Sparks, Virginia
News Source: Virginia Football
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12/06/22 - Aaron Faumui, rSr/2024, Virginia + More +

2022 ALL-ACC FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: DT - Aaron Faumui, Virginia, 22 votes,...Faumui started nine of 10 games on UVA's defensive line, totaling 39 tackles, including a team-best 8.5 tackles for loss. He was credited with four sacks and four quarterback hurries on a Cavalier defense that improved over 75 spots in total defense from a year ago. - Virginia Football

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DT Aaron Faumui, Virginia
News Source: Virginia Football
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12/06/22 - Chico Bennett Jr., rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

2022 ALL-ACC FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: DE - Chico Bennett, Virginia, 35 votes,...Playing UVA's bandit position, Bennett had a breakout season on a UVA defense that ranked 14th in the NCAA in sacks per game (3.0). Bennett started all but one game and led the team with seven total sacks. His 0.70 sacks per game are the third-most in the ACC. He garnered ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week twice this season, one of nine UVA defensive linemen ever to win the award twice in the same season. - Virginia Football

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DE Chico Bennett Jr., Virginia
News Source: Virginia Football
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12/05/22 - Anthony Johnson, rSr/2023, Virginia + More +

2022 ALL-ACC FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: CB - Anthony Johnson, Virginia, 84 votes,...Johnson started all 10 games at corner for UVA amassing 51 tackles, two interceptions and 12 pass break ups. His 14 passes defended (12 break ups & 2 interceptions) were the second-most among ACC defenders and his 1.4 passes defended per game are the eighth-best in FBS. Johnson's 38 career passes defended are tied for the fifth-most among active FBS defensive backs. - Virginia Football

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FS Anthony Johnson, Virginia
News Source: Virginia Football
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11/15/22 - Malcolm Greene, rSr/2025, Virginia + More +

Clemson will be without junior defensive back Malcolm Greene for the rest of the season due to a groin injury. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday Greene would need an operation and would not be available going forward. No. 9 Clemson (9-1, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) closes league play Saturday at home against Miami (5-5, 3-3). Greene is a 5-foot-10, 195-pound defender from Richmond, Virginia. He played in seven games with two starts this season, making eight tackles with an interception in a win over Louisiana Tech in September. Greene is the latest hit to a banged-up defense. Clemson is without starting defensive end Xavier Thomas, who underwent an operation on an injured foot this week and won't return. Linebacker Trenton Simpson, the team's second-leading tackler, missed last week's win over Louisville and his status this week is up in the air. - AP College Football

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