Virginia’s season-opening win over NC State had the kind of scoreboard finish that leaves a locker room feeling good. The film, though, still had plenty to say.
Pro Football Focus’ snap count breakdown gave a clearer picture of who turned a strong night into a bigger role, who made the most of limited work, and where Virginia still has some sorting out to do. The clearest winners came in the defensive back seven, along with a handful of offensive linemen who soaked up extra snaps and held up well.
Junior linebacker Myles Brown was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the opportunity in front of him. With preseason all-ACC pick Kam Robinson out, Brown was credited with eight tackles in only 19 snaps, which matched his career tackle total from his first two seasons combined.
PFF gave him a 74.1 grade, second only to cornerback Jacobie Henderson’s 74.2 among Virginia defenders and third-best on the roster overall. That kind of production should keep Brown in the rotation even when Robinson is back.
Virginia also got a useful look at third-year offensive lineman Ben York. He logged 33 snaps, a notable total for a reserve, and stepped in at times for right guard Makilan Thomas and right tackle Monroe Mills. York’s 64.4 grade was solid work and likely put him in position as the first man up on a veteran line that starts five graduate students.
At receiver, senior Ty’Lyric Coleman made his case too. Starting for the injured Rico Flores Jr., Coleman played 35 snaps, the most of any Virginia wideout, caught two passes and earned a 66.3 grade, just behind Da'Shawn Martin’s 67.8.
If Flores’ hamstring is ready for Norfolk State on Sept. 11, Coleman still looks like someone who will keep getting chances.
The game also featured the kind of rotation that comes with a warm opener, as Virginia mixed and matched running backs and defensive linemen to keep fresh legs on the field.
Beau Pribula’s Virginia debut was the headline performance on offense. His 85.6 overall grade led the team, and it lined up with the stat line: 110 rushing yards and two touchdown passes.
Monroe Mills (73.0), Makilan Thomas (66.2), McKale Boley (65.8), Noah Josey (65.7) and Drake Metcalf (64.6) all landed among Virginia’s top 10 offensive grades. At the other end, starting tight end Dakota Twitty posted the offense’s lowest grade at 55.1, while receivers Kam Courtney (57.9) and Jacquon Gibson (57.8) were also near the bottom.
Defensively, the best grades mostly came from the back end. Henderson (74.2), Omillo Agard (72.8), Brandyn Hillman (72.4), Jaylen Jones (70.7) and Ethan Minter (67.9) were all among Virginia’s top-rated defenders, joined by Brown and Landon Danley (73.8). The line had a rougher day by comparison, with six of Virginia’s seven lowest-graded defenders coming from that group.
Here’s the full PFF snap and grade list from the game:
- QB Beau Pribula 85.6 overall grade (62 snaps)
- OT Monroe Mills 73.0 (55)
- OL Dane Wleklinski 68.8 (6)
- WR Da'Shawn Martin 67.8 (28)
- WR Ty'Lyric Coleman 66.3 (35)
- OL Makilan Thomas 66.2 (39)
- OT McKale Boley 65.8 (62)
- OL Noah Josey 65.7 (62)
- OL Drake Metcalf 64.6 (62)
- RB Xay Davis 64.4 (13)
- OL Ben York 64.4 (33)
- RB Noah Vaughn 64.3 (8)
- RB Jekail Middlebrook 64.1 (30)
- RB Xavier Brown 61.8 (16)
- TE Connor Cox 60.8 (25)
- WR Jack Rhodes 60.5 (10)
- TE Henry Omohundro 60.0 (3)
- WR TeKai Kirby 60.0 (2)
- QB Eli Holstein 60.0 (6)
- OL Dane Steele 59.8 (3)
- RB Peyton Lewis 59.4 (7)
- WR Dylan Cope 59.3 (22)
- OL Jon Adair 59.2 (6)
- OL Grayson Reid 58.9 (6)
- WR Josiah Abdullah 58.5 (12)
- WR Tyson Davis 58.3 (4)
- WR Kameron Courtney 57.9 (25)
- TE John Rogers 57.8 (32)
- WR Jacquon Gibson 57.8 (28)
- OL Cole Surber 57.2 (6)
- TE Hayden Rollison 56.6 (3)
- TE Dakota Twitty 55.1 (37)
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