Chandler Morris Ready for Final Act at Virginia, Hoping to Spark a Cavalier Revival
For Chandler Morris, the journey to Virginia has been anything but linear. As he sat behind the microphone at the ACC Kickoff, the well-traveled quarterback was candid about his “roller coaster of a career”—one that has seen stops at Oklahoma, TCU, North Texas, and now, a final collegiate chapter in Charlottesville.
So, why Virginia? For Morris, it comes down to trust, relationships, and one familiar voice: head coach Tony Elliott. “Going back to my relationship with Coach Elliott, I’ve known him since I was about 11, 12 years old through my dad,” Morris said. “That was a big factor into it.”
It’s not just about comfort or nostalgia. For Morris, this season is about being “around good people” and finding a home where he can close out his college career with meaning.
“I know Coach Elliott is a great person. I knew he was going to have great people on his staff,” Morris said. “It was phenomenal” getting to visit and meet the team. “The community and kind of the fan base—Virginia, they’re hungry.”
| Season | Games | GS | Record | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
| Oklahoma Sooners | ||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 5 | 0 | — | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 39 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 | 125.5 | 5 | 44 | 8.8 | 2 | |
| TCU Horned Frogs | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | 4 | 2 | 1−1 | 50 | 75 | 66.7 | 717 | 9.6 | 3 | 0 | 160.2 | 25 | 83 | 3.3 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 1 | 1−0 | 18 | 27 | 66.7 | 145 | 5.4 | 1 | 0 | 124.0 | 6 | 24 | 6.0 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 6 | 3−3 | 133 | 203 | 65.5 | 1,532 | 7.5 | 12 | 5 | 143.5 | 45 | 249 | 5.5 | 3 | |
| North Texas Mean Green | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 12 | 12 | 6−6 | 322 | 512 | 62.9 | 3,774 | 7.4 | 31 | 12 | 140.1 | 60 | 242 | 4.0 | 4 | |
| Virginia Cavaliers | ||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Career | 32 | 21 | 11−10 | 526 | 822 | 64.0 | 6,207 | 7.6 | 47 | 17 | 142.2 | 141 | 642 | 4.6 | 10 | |
The Cavaliers are banking on Morris to help them take the next step after a year defined by close calls and a complete roster overhaul. Morris, who described his game as “exciting,” brings something Virginia has desperately lacked: experience and composure.
“You can’t coach experience,” Morris said, reflecting on his years playing behind and with quarterbacks like Heisman runner-up Max Duggan at TCU. “At that point, the game slows down for you. I think that’s where I’m going to be able to help us out. I think I can take a bad play and turn it into positive yards. I think I can use my feet and escape pressure and everything like that.”
For Morris, it’s also about leadership and being a positive voice on the field.
“I think I do a little bit of both,” Morris said of his approach in the huddle. “Vocal and then also, too, leading by example. I’m not the one who’s always going to step up and say something. I think I’m going to get out there and sweat with my guys and show that I’m there by their side through it all. But also, too, in the huddle, that’s when I’m going to step up and I’m going to really say something and really break it down and command the best out of my guys around me.”
If there’s a chip on Morris’ shoulder, it’s not bitterness—it’s hunger. He credits his teammates, especially returning leaders like Jahmeer Carter and Noah Josey, for welcoming him into the fold and making his transition seamless. “I came in in January, and they welcomed me with open arms. That speaks volumes,” Morris said.
Now, as he enters his final season, Morris is clear-eyed about his opportunity: “At the end of the day it’s going to come down to us, and go out and execute.”
With a rebuilt offensive line, new weapons at receiver, and a quarterback who’s seen it all, Virginia hopes that Morris’ last chapter will be his best yet—and that it will spark a new era for Cavalier football.
