Josh Heupel gives first impressions of Tony Muskett

Tennessee won’t be the only team in Nissan Stadium in Nashville debuting a starting quarterback when they face Virginia this Saturday, as the Cavaliers will be starting newly acquired transfer Tony Muskett under center.

Muskett has spent the last three seasons at Monmouth, where he was a standout quarterback for the Hawks. And ahead of his Virginia debut, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel was asked what he’s seen from Muskett in his film study.

“A guy that’s played at a really high level,” Heupel said. “And obviously transferring into a little bit of a new system, I anticipate his experience, he’ll be ready to play at a high level.”

Muskett was a three-year starter at Monmouth, where he threw for 5,687 yards and 51 touchdowns on an efficient 64.3% completion percentage. He was named the Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year following the 2020-2021 season, then followed that with two straight First Team All-Big South Conference selections in his sophomore and junior seasons.

He placed his name within the top five of various statistical categories in Monmouth’s record books, and will be looking to bring similar success to Virginia this season.

“For us we gotta do a great job of affecting the run game, eliminating that on normal downs, and trying to get them into some third and long situations,” Heupel said.

Tennessee’s defense took the spotlight last season, but their defense was a force to be reckoned with, ranking fifth in the SEC and points allowed per game at 23.5 and total sacks on the season with 27. And they’ll definitely be looking to wreak havoc on Muskett as he makes his FBS debut.

Josh Heupel reveals how Tennessee will honor Virginia following tragic 2022 shooting

Week 1 of college football brings plenty of excitement nationwide, as the long-awaited season finally kicks off this week. But it will be extra special for the Virginia Cavaliers football team, who will be playing their first game since the tragic events that transpired last November, resulting in the death of three members of their team.

The Cavaliers will hit the road to take on Tennessee to open the season following the cancellation of their final two games of the season after the harrowing shooting that took place on campus in 2022. And ahead of the game, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel revealed what the Volunteers will be doing to pay their condolences and honor the fallen Cavaliers.

“Obviously a horrific tragedy that took place there on their campus,” Heupel said. “They’ve had a long time to try to grow through that and you also recognize what happened, and so there will be a moment of silence before kickoff and then we’ll wear a decal of the three individuals that lost their lives on the back of the helmet.”

Virginia football players Devin Chandler, D’Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis were tragically shot and killed on a charter bus that was on the way back to Virginia’s campus following a school trip on November 14, sending shockwaves across the college sports landscape. And while they may be gone, their legacy will live on through the Cavaliers’ Week 1 matchup versus Tennessee and beyond.