As the 2023 college football season approaches, VolReport previews all 12 of Tennessee's opponents.
The Vols open the season on Sept. 2 against the Virginia Cavaliers at a neutral site at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Here is a closer look at Virginia.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS
Head coach: Tony Elliott (second season, 3-7)
Last season: 3-7
vs. ACC: 1-6
vs. Tennessee: 1-3 all-time (last meeting in 1991)
Virginia won nine games and appeared in the Orange Bowl just four years ago. Former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott was hired after Bronco Mendenhall retired in 2021. Tennessee will be the first opponent that the Cavaliers have played played since the tragic shooting deaths of three players; D'Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler last November. Virginia cancelled its last two games of the season.
KEY RETURNERS
Perris Jones, RB
Stats: 81 carries, 365 yards, two touchdowns
Grant Misch, WR
Stats: 17 receptions, 129 yards
Chico Bennett Jr., DE
Stats: 34 tackles, 7.0 sacks, 7.5 TFL
Jonas Sanker, DB
Stats: 63 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 interception
OFFENSE
Undoubtedly Virginia's biggest loss was veteran quarterback Brennan Armstrong who transferred to NC State after throwing for a combined 8,776 yards and 56 touchdowns over the last three seasons.
Tony Muskett was added from the transfer portal. He passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns at Monmouth last season and is expected to be Virginia's starting signal caller. In the the backfield, the Cavaliers also return running back Perris Jones, who rushed for a team-high 365 yards and two touchdowns as well as Mike Hollins and Xavier Brown.
DEFENSE
Virginia finished in the top half of the ACC in total defense last season, limiting opponents to 357.6 yards and 24.0 points per game.
There are some missing pieces that transferred out, including linebacker Nick Jackson and defensive back Fentrell Cypress II. The strength of the defense is going to be at the first level as Chico Bennett Jr. returns off the edge after totaling a team-high 7.0 sacks. Tackles Aaron Faumui and Jahmeer Carter, who combined for 68 tackles help anchor the defensive front.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Virginia returns plenty of production on special teams, including punter Daniel Sparks and kicker Will Bettridge.
Sparks was an All-ACC selection last season and averaged 45.8 yards per punt and Bettridge was 7-of-10 on field goals. In the return game, wide receiver Demick Starling is back after averaging more than 21 yards per kick return last season, which ranked second in the ACC.
GAME OUTLOOK
For the second time since 2015, Tennessee will open its season in Nashville and it should be a resounding start to the Vols' 2023 campaign.
Tennessee is a 26.5 point favorite playing in its own backyard against a Virginia team that lost a plethora of key contributors last season. It's not exactly the kind of Power Five season opener that will get a lot of attention, but on paper it has the potential to be the kind of game Tennessee can cruise in and get off to a strong start with Florida looming two weeks later.
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