East Carolina graduate transfer Kurt Benkert could soon be reuniting with former Pirate head coach Ruffin McNeill at the University of Virginia.

Benkert, who recently announced his intentions to leave ECU, is slated to visit Virginia this weekend, sources tell Hoist The Colours. McNeill, who was fired from his alma mater after a 5-7 season in 2015, is currently an assistant coach under first-year UVa head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

If the visit goes well, Benkert’s expected to join the Cavaliers, barring something unforeseen.

Virginia returns junior starting quarterback Matt Johns, who threw for 2,810 yards, 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions last season.

Benkert, a redshirt junior, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining and can play immediately.



The highly-touted passer was named the Pirates’ starting quarterback last season under McNeill before tearing his ACL a week prior to the team’s first game. He re-entered a quarterback competition against transfer Philip Nelson at the start of this year under new head coach Scottie Montgomery before announcing his decision to leave the program at the end of spring practice.