Virginia is back on the field Friday night, and Tony Elliott isn’t treating Norfolk State like a tune-up in spite of the matchup looking lopsided on paper. The Cavaliers host the Spartans at Scott Stadium in an evening game after an unusually early bye week, and while Virginia is expected to win comfortably, Elliott spent his weekly press conference stressing the details he wants handled the right way.
The biggest immediate update centered on linebacker Robinson, who is expected to play. Elliott said the plan is to be careful with his workload, especially because this will be his first time in full contact after missing all of Virginia’s tackle-to-the-ground scrimmages during fall camp.
“We'll be smart,” Elliott said. “We're going to turn him loose, but we'll also be smart. This will be the first time that he'll be out there in full contact because all of our tackle to the ground scrimmages, he was not available during fall camp.”
How much Robinson actually plays may depend on how quickly Virginia puts the game away, and on how much the staff wants to keep other linebackers involved. Elliott pointed to the group’s depth as a reason Robinson may not need to carry the full load.
“I just think the biggest thing with that group is there's not a huge drop off when Kam's not in there, and that's what we've wanted to do,” Elliott said. “Hopefully, now with the competitive depth, he doesn't have to be out there to make every single play. I know he wants to, right?”
That also ties into Virginia’s bigger picture, with a Sept. 19 game against West Virginia looming. A healthier Robinson then would obviously matter more than forcing extra snaps now.
Elliott also spent time talking about the offensive line, a unit he has praised before but still wants to see expand further. He said the goal is to get to 12 linemen who can realistically play, even if the group is already one of the team’s strengths.
“I think we're closer to having seven, eight, nine - maybe 10,” Elliott said. “But that number needs to be 12.
And I think that's a number I've been saying for a while. But it's just for the long haul, right?
It just takes reps off of guys, it takes exposure away from guys, it builds depth. It's critical and huge to have as many guys available and ready to play, not just on the offensive line, but at every position.”
Virginia’s recruiting pitch came up too, especially after the Cavaliers hosted nearly 100 recruits for the NC State game. Elliott made clear that the program wants to keep top in-state talent home, and he used Robinson and Brandyn Hillman as examples of the kind of players Virginia believes it can develop without sending them elsewhere.
“The guys that we're talking about on our roster that are freakish - [Brandyn] Hillman and [Kam] Robinson, they're from the state of Virginia, right?” Elliott said.
“And I really philosophically believe in doing things from the inside out all the way around. And so it's important that the top players in the state know that they don't have to leave the state.
Now if they choose to, because it is their decision, but it's not a situation where we lack anything that they need to be successful.”
Elliott said making a strong impression on recruits and their families mattered during that visit, and he framed the state itself as the starting point for Virginia’s roster-building approach. He pointed to the coaching and talent across the commonwealth, and to the makeup of the class that is currently coming together.
“I'm going to start in the state of Virginia because there's an unbelievable amount of talent, great coaching at the high school level,” Elliott said. “So there's great atmospheres around the state.
So we want to start with guys. And you look at our class that's coming together, the bulk of them are from the state of Virginia.
I want to do it with guys that it means something to put on the V Sabres and represent the state of Virginia.”
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Kam Robinsons Return Brings A Virginia Question Fans Cant Ignore
Kam Robinson has been one of the more important defensive pieces for Virginia, and his expected return gives the Cavaliers a timely boost as they get ready for Norfolk State. After missing the start of the season because of injury, he is back in the mix at a point when the staff would love to start rebuilding depth and confidence on that side of the ball.
The bigger question is how quickly Robinson can look like himself again, because Virginia is not just hoping for bodies on the field. The coaching staff wants to bring him along carefully and see him become a factor on pass rushes, with an eye toward having him truly ready for the tougher games ahead, including West Virginia. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias Bowl Ceiling Suddenly Feels Higher Than Anyone Expected
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The tricky part is that the answer still depends on a few things Virginia cannot fully control, from what happens elsewhere in the ACC to how the selection committee weighs strength of schedule against record. ESPNs Football Power Index has the Cavaliers at 10-2, which would already put them in a strong spot, and an 11-1 finish is the kind of outcome that would force a much bigger discussion about the College Football Playoff and the possibility of lining up against SEC powers if the path gets that far. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Fans Will Be Watching One Thing In Norfolk State Rout
Virginia is keeping things simple, and all blue, for its Week 2 matchup with Norfolk State, a look the Cavaliers have not used yet this season. The game also figures to serve as a chance for younger players to get meaningful snaps, which makes a rout against an FCS opponent feel more like a checkpoint than a true measuring stick.
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 🡒]