It’s been a lost first season for Bronco Mendenhall at Virginia. The Hoos are 2-8 with just two games remaining.
With nothing to officially play for this season, Mendenhall announced Monday ahead of Saturday’s date with Georgia Tech he’s going to shake things up at quarterback by demoting junior Kurt Benkert to prepare the program for the future by promoting... senior Matt Johns?
Johns has attempted only nine passes this season but fired 403 in 2015, completing 61 percent of his throws for 2,810 yards while tossing 20 touchdowns against 17 interceptions. (To be fair, Benkert hasn’t lit the world on fire this year. He’s 78th nationally in passing efficiency.)
Still, Mendenhall felt he owed Johns the chance to play his final two games as a Cavalier.
Bronco: I have to allow Matt [Johns] to have this chance. He has done so much for this program.
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) November 14, 2016
While usually you see coaches move to the next generation in situations like this, this show of respect to a team leader will do nothing but build equity for Mendenhall inside Virginia’s locker room.