The Miami Hurricanes may not know what quarterback they’ll face on Saturday until the day of the match, as starter Brennan Armstrong remains in the concussion protocol.
Armstrong was injured while sliding on a run play in Virginia’s 38-21 loss to North Carolina State on October 10 and has been sidelined since. Head coach Bronco Mendenhall has mentioned that if Armstrong is not available against Miami, he will implement a similar three quarterback system that they showcased last week.
Lindell Stone made his first start against Wake Forest, throwing zero touchdowns and two interceptions in a 40-23 loss that saw three Cavalier QB’s take the field. Stone, a senior, is more of a traditional passer when compared to the other two. He’ll take most of the snaps at quarterback if Armstrong misses this game.
Keytaon Thompson, a junior transfer from Mississippi State, came into Virginia as a dual-threat quarterback, but a shoudler injury has forced him to transition to a hybrid role, either as a WR or RB. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder caught one pass for a touchdown against Clemson earlier this season and rushed for 70 yards and averaged 7.1 yards a carry versus Wake Forest.
Thompson has only attempted one pass on the year while playing 66 total snaps for the Cavaliers. If he’s in the game, look for him to not pass very much if at all.
Freshman Iraken Armstead, a former three-star dual-threat quarterback, helped the rushing attack immensely last week against Wake Forest. Like Thompson, he adds a wrinkle in the offense with his ability to run and pass. Armstead only completed one pass on four attempts last week but finished the game with 46 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Hurricanes should expect a similar game with some surprise throws from Thompson and Armstead. A majority of the fanbase has been calling for Thompson to start, as he looks to be the best physically and adds a different element with his rare size and athleticism.
Expect the Cavaliers to try and set up Miami’s defense with multiple plays out of the same look. Virginia will try and cheme their way into touchdowns as the offense has been inconsistent. Don’t expect a lot of long, methodical drives from Virginia on Saturday.
