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Colandrea wasn't a very good QB at all for 2023 and 2024. I think he has hit his ceiling, barring some major mental development (especially when it comes to reading WR progressions).

If anything, in 2023, he had Malik Washington as his WR1 (1400+ yards receiving), as well as Malachi Fields (800+ yards), which offset his inability to read through WR progressions.

Colandrea didn't have horrible numbers, but when you throw for about the same number of INT's as you do TD's, and can't sustain drives very well, that tells the true story. UVa has been around 90th or so for the last two years when it comes to offensive performance.

That, plus the offensive line stunk up the field. I think he got sacked 9 times twice that year (UNC, SMU games), and took an unreasonable number of hits due to his indecision as well as a porous line.

If anything, I'd say that Colandrea's 2023 season was a lot like Drew Pyne's season (minus the very good TD / INT ratio, and the excellent ND offensive line). He would lock onto Malik Washington, often times ignoring Fields breaking wide open, as well as a plethora of other receivers also getting open. Washington was having an amazing season, where he'd come up with that catch more often than not, even in double coverage, in the same way that Mayer bailed out Pyne in 2022.


If CJ Carr can make all of the throws with accuracy, precision, timing, and zip (and I know he can) this year, there's virtually no reason why Malachi Fields wouldn't have a very fine season for us (aside from the usual suspects such as injuries, etc). He's an excellent downfield receiver, and can fight for those contested balls.