Miami Football: 3 takeaways from Hurricanes win over Virginia in Week 12

2. Kurt Benkert has grit

Virginia hasn’t been known for offense since, well, I can remember and I’ve been a crazy college football fan since 1989 and would consider myself a historian of 1983 and beyond. UVA has been a defensive squad for years but Kurt Benkert, the East Carolina University transfer, came ready to show Miami what he was about. Benkert looked the Miami pass rush in the face and threw for over 380 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception.

The issue was his one interception was a pick-six to Jaquon Johnson and that cost Virginia the game. Benkert though came out on fire at one point being 12-of-12 with two touchdowns.

Benkert took the hits from Shaq Quarterman right under the chin and stood tall. He’s a tough kid that spread the ball to nine receivers and threw his four touchdowns to four different receivers. Miami came out looking to stop the pass and couldn’t in the first half. Virginia was up 21-14 and Miami was sleep walking through the game. Then that pick-six happened and Miami came alive on the Turnover Chain hype machine. But Benkert shouldn’t hang his head

Benkert has thrown for 2,400-plus yards and over 20 touchdowns in 2017. He was Ruffin McNeil’s quarterback and once he was let go, Benkert transferred to Virginia. In a two-win 2016 season he threw for 2,000-plus yards and over 20 touchdowns as well. Bronco Mendenhall has had a great holdover quarterback and will have to move forward without a stud like Benkert.