Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/578932
BY BRAD FRANKLIN W HEN HEAD COACH MIKE Lon- don released UVa's post-spring depth chart in April, newly anointed starting quarterback Matt Johns couldn't know how different the next five months of his life would be. Though he's not technically a team captain, Johns is clearly one of Virginia's most important leaders. And given the drama that has surrounded the QB position in Charlottesville in the past, he's also deeply entrenched as the starter. A 6-5, 210-pound redshirt third-year from Chal- font, Pa., Johns wasn't exactly a quarterback phe- nom. He didn't really get deeply into football until he was about to start his junior year at Central Bucks South High School and was a modest three- star recruit who threw for more than 4,800 yards and 46 touchdowns as a prep prospect. When he committed to Virginia in June 2011, he had no way of knowing that highly touted signal- caller Greyson Lambert would also choose the Cavaliers just two months later. After they each redshirted as first-years, Lambert put himself in a position to be UVa's backup in 2013 and ultimately won the starting job heading into last season. But Lambert struggled in the opener against then-No. 7 UCLA, and Johns came on in a hurry. His first career pass went for 32 yards to room- mate, good friend and then-third-year wide re- ceiver Canaan Severin. His second throw was a 29-yard touchdown strike to then-first-year wide- out Andre Levrone. He finished that day 13-of-22 passing for 154 yards with two touchdowns. Need- less to say, he had shown the coaches something. Though Lambert remained the starter, Johns played in all 12 games and started three after Lam- bert suffered an ankle injury at BYU. Johns fin- FOCUSED ON THE MISSION Matt Johns Won A Heated QB Battle Last Spring And Now Wants To Be A Leader For The Cavaliers