He listed experience and leadership as Johns’ strength. Johns, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound Pennsylvania native, started all 12 games last season as U.Va. went 4-8. He completed 247 of 403 passes for 2,810 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“Being the returning starter, he’s been in the line of fire with quite a few starts,” Beck said. “So he has a lot of game experience and handling everything that comes with that. That’s been a big strength for him as well as his leadership.”

Beck said the 6-2, 195-pound Brewer, who transferred to Virginia before last season after time at Texas and Arizona, surprised the coaching staff with his decision-making and execution.

“The thing we learned early on in the spring was how accurate he was and how quick and decisive he was with his reads,” Beck said. “He did a great job managing chaos. When things aren’t quite right, he’s really level-headed.”

Benkert, who was slated to start for Ruffin McNeill — now an assistant at U.Va. — at ECU before a preseason knee injury last year, has worked to catch up with Johns’ and Brewer’s understanding of the Cavaliers’ new offense. Benkert, 6-4 and 235 pounds, is considered the most mobile of Virginia’s options, and Mendenhall suggested earlier this preseason a dual-threat quarterback would suit his offense best.