Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall named redshirt sophomore Brennan Armstrong as the Cavaliers’ starting quarterback on Thursday.
Armstrong got the nod over Keytaon Thompson, a graduate transfer from Mississippi State, and replaces two-year starter Bryce Perkins. Perkins signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Armstrong appeared in 11 games over the past two seasons, completing 17 of 25 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns and rushing 16 times for 93 yards.
He will be the first left-handed quarterback to start for the Cavaliers since Jameel Sewell (2006-09).
Thompson, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound redshirt junior, appeared in 20 games for the Bulldogs from 2017-19 and was 2-0 as a starter. He completed 50 of 105 passes for 846 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed 99 times for 672 yards and 10 scores.
He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Virginia, which won the ACC’s Coastal Division title last season, is scheduled to open the 2020 campaign on Sept. 19 at rival Virginia Tech.
