Virginia Cavaliers Welcome Richmond Spiders in Week 1

The Virginia Cavaliers will open their 2024 college football campaign with an FCS school, Richmond Spiders. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST on Aug, 31 in Charlottesville, Va.

What's at Stake

Tony Elliott enters his third year as Cavaliers head coach. With just six wins in his first two years, Elliott will need to show improvement to keep his job. The good news? Despite winning just three games in 2023, five of his nine losses were by one possession. Four of those five losses happened to be by a field goal or less. Virginia will need to improve its late-game management and defensive pass rush to make that jump this season.

Key Players: Virginia

Offensive: Chris Tyree, wide receiver/return specialist. Elliott went into the Transfer Portal and landed a Swiss army knife-type of player, Tyree from Notre Dame. Tyree, a Virginia native. played four years for the Irish and appeared in 49 games. He played at four positions: kick returner, punt returner, running back and wide receiver. Tyree totaled over 3,200 all-purpose yards and will be looked upon to fill the big hole left by Malik Washington in the slot.

Defensive: Jonas Sanker, safety. The 2023 season was a coming-out party for Sanker, a junior safety who was playing for his hometown college team. Sanker piled up over 100 tackles, 11 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and a partridge in a pear tree. A load of experience returns, including sixth-year senior Antonio Clary from injury. The Cavaliers' defense will look to Sanker in improving the team's 116th-ranked scoring defense from last year.

Key Players: Richmond

Offensive: Nick DeGennaro, wide receiver/punt returner. DeGennaro returns for his third season at Richmond after transferring from Maryland in 2022. DeGennaro was the Spiders' leading pass catcher by a wide margin last season. He has over 1,400 yards in his two seasons with the Spiders. Whoever starts at quarterback for Richmond, look for him to lean on DeGennaro in the passing game against this Virginia secondary.

Defensive: Jabril Hayes, defensive back. Hayes was named first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association on special teams last season.

But he also tied for the team lead in interceptions with three last year. Hayes will need to step into a larger role this year for this Spiders' defense. This is especially true after DB Aaron Banks graduated last year. Hayes, who also had five pass deflections as a junior, will need to improve on those numbers in a lead role. It starts against Virginia.

Trends to Watch

The Cavaliers finished 3-9 last season but it could have easily been an eight-win year. They cannot overlook Richmond in Week 1. For them to win this one, they cannot afford late-game lapses. Playing a full four quarters of clean, consistent football will secure a win.

Richmond head coach Russ Huesman has yet to announce a starting quarterback. But a name to look out for is junior Kyle Wickersham. He started last season before missing some time due to injury. Huesman enters his eighth season leading the Spiders' program and 16th season overall as a head coach. Huesman has experience against FBS programs. He played Michigan State last year and Virginia two years ago. In 2022, Richmond lost to Virginia 34-17. But the game was much closer than indicated as the Spiders allowed just 6 points in the second half.

For Richmond to win, it will have to come in with no fear. The Spiders are playing a team with six total wins in the past two years. Virginia is not a powerhouse program. The Spiders have the talent and experience to win. DeGennaro said in an interview that they can't be scared of nice uniforms and ACC patches. If Richmond comes in expecting to win, then they could make a Saturday in Charlottesville very interesting.