ICYMI: UVA Football Lands Major Commitment from Top Experienced QB shaking up the QB depth chart

A day after signing Nebraska freshman quarterback Danny Kaelin from the transfer portal, the UVA Football coaching staff added Chandler Morris, who passed for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns at North Texas in 2024.

Is there any doubt that Virginia is a serious factor in the NIL now?

According to a source, Kaelin was a seven-figure NIL signee despite not having played a down of college football. He was an Elite 11 finalist as a prep and has four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting as a true freshman at Nebraska this fall.

Morris steps into Virginia as a ready-made starting quarterback, bringing 21 career starts between TCU and North Texas. He enters the 2025 season as a sixth-year senior.

His connection to UVA runs deeper than just football—his father, Chad Morris, was Clemson’s offensive coordinator from 2011-2014, during which time Tony Elliott was on staff as the running backs coach. When Chad left to become SMU’s head coach, Elliott took over play-calling duties at Clemson. Chad Morris later had a brief stint as Arkansas’ head coach before being dismissed after a 4-18 record in 2018-2019. He now serves as the wide receivers coach at Texas State, which finished 7-5 in 2024 and is set to play North Texas in the First Responder Bowl on Jan. 3.

It feels like ages ago that Virginia fans were concerned about losing two-year starter Anthony Colandrea to the transfer portal. And with Sunday’s news about Danny Kaelin, Morris’ commitment just a day later comes as a bit of a surprise.

 

 

Kaelin, while talented, is still a developmental quarterback, and it seemed the NIL investment in him signaled he would be given the chance to lead the team in 2025 while learning on the job. However, it’s clear that Chandler Morris isn’t coming to Virginia to sit on the bench—he’s arriving to be the starting quarterback.

His addition shakes up the QB depth chart. With Kaelin, along with 2025 signees Cole Geer and Bjorn Jurgensen, in the mix, it likely makes 2024 transfer Gavin Frakes—who previously started five games at New Mexico State—expendable. And looking ahead, one of the freshmen, Geer or Jurgensen, may eventually transfer after the 2025 season, given Kaelin’s projected role as the long-term starter.

Now that Virginia’s quarterback situation appears settled, the next priority must be bolstering the offensive line—because no matter who’s under center, they’ll need protection.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*