Virginia picked up a major early building block for its 2028 class on the morning after beating Delaware, landing a commitment from four-star quarterback Grayson Clary out of Raburn Gap-Nachoochee in Raburn Gap, Ga.
Clary becomes the first blue-chip recruit in Virginia’s 2028 group, and he arrives with a long list of suitors. Oregon, Ole Miss, Duke, Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and others were in the mix, but a visit to Charlottesville for the NC State game helped push the Cavaliers into position.
QB HitList gave Clary an elite prospect grade of 96.5, with his strongest marks coming in poise (9.6/10), decision making (9.56), release (9.54) and touch (9.52).
He is viewed as a rising name among pro-style quarterbacks, a pocket passer who can run an offense and also uncork deep throws down the field. That profile could sound familiar to Virginia fans watching the position in recent years.
Here is what HitList scouts said about his accuracy and arm strength:
"When given the time and space, Grayson's right on the mark. He has a very consistent throwing motion, allowing for minimal deviation.
Throws are made in-line with his receivers. Loses a bit of consistency while on the run, but [arm strength] is a major area of skill.
Displays very good arm strength at all levels. A very quick release which allows for increased velocity.
Solid vertical passing game with long throws made downfield. Tight trajectory."
Clary has also done his work against elite competition. He has already faced several of the country’s top high school programs and has shown the ability to deliver accurate throws while under pressure, both from defenders and from the expectations that come with lining up against four- and five-star talent.
In his first three games against Top 50 opponents - Venice (46), Brownsburg (17) and Baylor School (6) - he went 64-for-92 for 950 passing yards with six passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.
For Virginia, the commitment carries extra weight because the program has not often landed blue-chip high school talent lately. Over the past few seasons, the Cavaliers have signed just one four-star recruit out of high school, linebacker Kam Robinson in the 2023 cycle. Instead, they have leaned heavily on the transfer portal, including additions such as Monroe Mills, the top offensive lineman in the 2025 cycle, and Brandyn Hillman, a top defensive back in the 2026 cycle.
Now the Cavaliers have a quarterback centerpiece to start shaping around. That matters even more with Beau Pribula in his final year of eligibility and No. 2 quarterback Eli Holstein entering his last season as well.
In Other News...
Beau Pribula Is Giving Virginia One Huge Reason For Belief
Beau Pribula has given Virginia exactly the kind of early-season lift a team hopes to get at quarterback, and the numbers are hard to ignore. Through the first four weeks of the college football season, he has sat among the national leaders in completion percentage, passer rating and passing touchdowns, giving the Cavaliers a steady presence at the position and helping them build momentum while the schedule has stayed manageable.
Still, the fuller picture will come into focus soon enough. Pribulas efficiency has been aided by a low interception total and by being pulled early from three of Virginias first four games because of lopsided leads, which has kept the sample a little cleaner than it may look at first glance. The competition has been mixed so far, and the real test of how much belief he can truly inspire will come when Virginia starts lining up against ACC defenses. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Still Commands Respect Before Virginia Even Arrives
Before Virginia even gets to Tallahassee, Tony Elliott is already treating Florida State like the kind of opponent that can test every layer of a team. The Cavaliers head coach pointed to the Seminoles consistent talent and the challenge of playing at Doak Campbell Stadium, framing the matchup as one against a historically strong program in a difficult road environment. For Virginia, it is the kind of game that demands attention to detail and a willingness to play fast and physical from the opening snap.
Elliott also made it clear he believes his team belongs in this kind of setting. He said Virginia is prepared for the challenge and understands the value of facing top competition, even when the assignment looks daunting on paper. For a program still trying to build momentum, the trip offers more than just another conference game, since it puts the Cavaliers in front of a standard they can measure themselves against in real time. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias ACC Path Just Got More Real And More Complicated
Virginias path through the ACC suddenly looks less like a straight line and more like a traffic jam. ESPNs latest projection still has the Cavaliers in excellent shape, with a strong overall finish and a single conference loss, but the bigger takeaway is what it means in the league race: Tony Elliotts team is no longer just trying to stay relevant, it is trying to stay ahead of a packed and unpredictable field.
Florida States outlook remains unsettled, Syracuse has not gotten steady play from quarterback Steve Angeli, and a cluster of teams including SMU, Duke, Wake Forest, California, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are all still hanging around the conversation. With several key matchups still to come, Virginias margin for error is getting thinner by the week, and the difference between a clear title path and a complicated one may end up being decided by the kind of results nobody can afford to assume anymore. [Read more 🡒]