Virginia didn’t exactly miss a beat without Kam Robinson in the opener. The Cavaliers rolled past NC State 34-8 with the linebacker on the sideline, and they’re heavy favorites again Friday night against Norfolk State, an FCS team that went 1-11 in Michael Vick’s first season as coach.
But that hasn’t changed the way Virginia views Robinson. If anything, it only sharpens the anticipation around his return.
Robinson has spent his first three seasons in Charlottesville becoming Tony Elliott’s most explosive defender, the kind of player who can flip a game in one snap. Three of his five career interceptions have gone for touchdowns, and one of his most memorable plays came last season when he delivered the tackle that produced the decisive safety in a win over Washington State.
Injuries have been the main thing keeping him from being mentioned with the biggest defensive names in Virginia history, alongside players like Tiki Barber, Anthony Poindexter, Chris Long and Chris Slade. He missed the first three games last season with a collarbone injury, then was shut down for the final three after tearing an ACL against Duke. His rehab raised the possibility that he might be ready for the opener against NC State, but Elliott decided he still wasn’t quite there.
Virginia held up fine without him. The Cavaliers’ veteran defense smothered CJ Bailey and limited NC State to one touchdown, marking the third time in the last four games without Robinson that Virginia has done that. Myles Brown, Maddox Marcellus and Landon Danley combined for 20 tackles against the Wolfpack, with Brown piling up eight on just 19 snaps.
Still, Elliott made it clear Tuesday that Robinson’s return matters.
" We all know what Kam Robinson is capable of," Elliott said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. "Now he's got to get back into play mode and play shape and all of that. So I think he can be very effective getting home on the blitzes."
"I think the first thing is to make sure we know where he's at, right? And we're not putting him in a position to ask him to do something that maybe he's not ready to do yet with his process of returning to play.
But. I think that you gain more speed."
That speed could come into play against Norfolk State quarterback Deljay Bailey, who was sacked three times in a loss to Old Dominion last Saturday. Virginia’s front four looked solid against NC State, but the Cavaliers didn’t record a sack; both of their takedowns of CJ Bailey came on blitzes, one by linebacker Caleb Hardy and the other by safety Jaylen Jones.
Defensive coordinator John Rudzinski should have a few chances to unleash Robinson Friday night. Norfolk State has leaned on the run through two games, with 83 rushing attempts and 40 passes, but the Spartans could be forced into more obvious passing downs in Charlottesville.
If the game gets lopsided early, Robinson and many of Virginia’s starters may not see much of the field. That’s part of the calculus too. Elliott and Rudzinski would love to see him knock off some rust and stack a few confidence-building snaps, but the bigger goal is keeping him healthy for next Saturday’s game against West Virginia’s up-tempo, run-heavy offense in Charlotte and for the rest of the season.
"I just think the biggest thing with that group is there's not a huge drop off when Kam's not in there, you know, and that's what we've wanted to do,' Elliott said. "Now we know Kam's special and he's going to go make those freakish plays that like only Kam can make."
"... Some may say, well, that's what's best for the team, but you know, a fresh Kam, a fast Kam, right?
I think is more effective rushing the passer. I think he makes more plays, and then also it takes some of the exposure to injury away by having a competitive depth."
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Tony Elliotts Kam Robinson Update Adds Intrigue To Virginias Friday Night Tune-Up
Virginias Friday night tune-up came with a little more intrigue than usual, thanks to Tony Elliotts latest update on linebacker Kam Robinson. Elliott indicated Robinson is expected to play, which is welcome news for a defense that has leaned on its depth at linebacker, but the exact workload still isnt settled as game day approaches. It is the kind of status note that matters in September and beyond, especially for a team trying to keep its best pieces available while staying sharp in a short-week setting.
Elliott also used the moment to zoom out a bit, pointing to the bigger roster-building picture around the program. He stressed the importance of recruiting elite in-state talent and said Virginia recently hosted nearly 100 recruits at a game, a reminder that these early-season nights are about more than the scoreboard. The offensive line remains part of that long view too, with Elliott talking about the need for enough depth up front to withstand the grind of a full season. [Read more 🡒]
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Virginia Fans Will Be Watching One Thing In Norfolk State Rout
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The bigger subplot for fans may come on special teams, where kicker Will Bettridge is sitting on the edge of Virginia history. A few clean kicks could push him into the school record books, and with West Virginia and Delaware coming next, this is the lone chance for the Cavaliers to handle that business before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]