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FEBRUARY 2023 15 Thompson and Chandler but returns big targets in third-year Malachi Fields and second-year Sean Wilson and added Washington, who caught 65 passes at Northwestern last season. Starling is back, too, and he offers game-changing speed. That unit will also have a new coach, after Marques Hagans — who had been on UVA's staff since 2011, with the first two years as a graduate assistant and the rest as receiv- ers coach — was hired at Penn State in late January. And then there's quarterback, where Armstrong — who was a three-year starter during his record-setting UVA career — has departed. His successor is likely to be third- year Jay Woolfolk or Muskett, with Colan- drea, fifth-year Jared Rayman, second-year Delaney Crawford, second-year Davis Lane Jr. and second-year Grady Brosterhous also in the mix. Woolfolk, a two-sport athlete at Virginia, will be splitting time between baseball and football this spring. Muskett, who's making the transition from the FCS level to FBS, will be focused on football. A graduate of West Springfield High in Northern Virginia, Muskett threw 51 touch- down passes in his three seasons at Mon- mouth. "He was the freshman of the year in his conference and back-to-back first team all- conference in his league," Elliott said. "So, we were looking for a guy with experience … and a guy who wanted to come in and compete and wasn't going to be afraid of the competition he was going to have to go through if he wanted to be the guy." At the Cavaliers' end-of-season banquet in the George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility, head coach Tony Elliott recognized five players as team captains for 2022, based on their leadership, work ethic and performance: quarterback Brennan Armstrong, line- backer Nick Jackson, cornerback Anthony Johnson, running back Perris Jones and punter Daniel Sparks. During the season, different players served as UVA's captains for each game. Other accolades at the banquet went to center Ty Furnish, run- ning back Xavier Brown, wideouts JR Wilson and Keytaon Thomp- son, offensive linemen Logan Taylor and Noah Josey, linebackers James Jackson, Steve Bracey, Trey McDonald and Nick Jackson, and defensive linemen Mike Diatta, Terrell Jones and Paul Akere. On offense, Furnish was named most improved player and Brown rookie of the year. Wilson and Taylor were honored as impact players, Josey received the 12th Man Award, and Thompson was named MVP. On defense, James Jackson was named most improved player, and Diatta was selected as the rookie of the year. The impact play- ers were Terrell Jones, Bracey and McDonald, and the 12th Man Award went to Akere. The group's MVP was Nick Jackson. The most improved player on special teams was Elijah Gaines, and Will Bettridge was named rookie of the year. Sparks was hon- ored as specialist of the year. Also at the banquet, Elliott presented Carter with the H.E.A.R.T. Award. The acronym stands for humility, effort, accountability, re- spect and toughness. Sparks, Akere, Jared Rayman, Logan Kotter and Luke Byrne were recognized for their academic achievement, and Rayman was hon- ored for his community service. Head strength and conditioning coach Adam Smotherman and his staff singled out Carter, Nick Jackson, Perris Jones and Caleb Stoltz for their exemplary work in the weight room. — Jeff White Head coach Tony Elliott noted that he was "excited about the future" after an offseason during which Virginia added 19 recruits and five transfers. (Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA) SEVERAL CAVALIERS HONORED DURING END-OF-SEASON BANQUET