Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall has announced Virginia’s 10th starting quarterback in the last 11 years.
Junior Kurt Benkert was officially given the starting position Wednesday morning, just 10 days before the Cavaliers open their season against Richmond. Benkert, who transferred from East Carolina after suffering a season-ending injury in 2015, has been named as a starter before. Before tearing his ACL during fall camp, he was named the starting quarterback for the Pirates under now-Virginia assistant coach Ruffin McNeill.
The Florida native is already accustomed to the air raid offensive scheme. Benkert is a mobile quarterback who fits the bill for Mendenhall’s offense as a dual-threat quarterback. He has two years of eligibility remaining at Virginia.
After redshirting in the 2013 season, Benkert played in three games in 2014 at East Carolina. In those three games, he scored two rushing touchdowns and completed 8-of-10 passes for 58 yards.
Senior classmates Matt Johns and Connor Brewer will be competing for the backup quarterback spot throughout the season. Benkert replaces Johns, who started for the Cavaliers in 2015 and recorded 2,810 passing yards in the regular season, the third highest total in the ACC. Brewer held the back up position in 2015 behind Johns after graduating from Arizona and coming to Virginia. He appeared in two games — going 4-for-8 against Boise State and handing the ball off for a 15-yard play against Miami.
Benkert will take a snap at Scott Stadium for the first time Sept. 3 in the Cavaliers’ season opener against Richmond.
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