Virginia’s offseason was always going to be judged by one thing: whether the Cavaliers could turn last year’s momentum into something real. They were a few plays short of the College Football Playoff, and that meant the margin for error in the transfer portal was tiny. Virginia had to reload, not just patch holes.
The Cavaliers did exactly that, putting together another large - and likely costly - portal class to support the players already in place. And while the headline additions matter, a few other moves could end up shaping the 2026 season just as much.
One of the biggest wins was keeping Orck in Charlottesville. Ask any Virginia offensive lineman about him, and the praise comes fast.
He’s been described as a players’ coach, the kind of energetic, motivating presence that matters in a room full of linemen. That retention became even more valuable after Terry Heffernan left for Stanford this offseason.
Losing both coaches could have thrown a serious wrench into a unit that looks ready to become one of the best in the Power Four. Instead, Virginia kept the continuity intact up front.
On defense, Virginia had a major departure to absorb in Mitchell Melton, who left to pursue his NFL dream with the Indianapolis Colts. Rather than chase one clean replacement, the Cavaliers went wide, adding Matthew Fobbs-White, Nnanna Anyanwu, Ezekiel Larry, Justin Townsend, Devon Baxter and several other defensive linemen.
The plan is straightforward: let them fight it out in fall camp for the starting BANDIT job and other key roles, including a third down pass rush specialist spot like Daniel Rickert. Virginia should be able to pull real production from at least a few of those newcomers.
The secondary took a hit too, and this one starts with Devin Neal, not Hillman. Neal was Virginia’s former star safety and earned Third Team All-ACC honors in 2025 after leading the team with 88 tackles.
He was the kind of player who kept showing up in the biggest moments, whether with steady tackling or a late-game pass breakup. Replacing that kind of presence is never simple, but Virginia is handing the job to Hillman.
He arrives with Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition from last season at Michigan and brings a hard-hitting, aggressive style that could make him a major piece of the 2026 defense.
Virginia also had to remake its backfield after J’Mari Taylor and Harrison Waylee moved on as a productive running back duo. The Cavaliers answered by bringing in Lewis, Middlebrook and Beebe, a trio that gives them different looks and, in particular, more speed in the passing game. That receiving threat out of the backfield could become one of the more useful wrinkles in the offense.
And then there was quarterback, the biggest vacancy of all. With Chandler Morris out of eligibility, Virginia had to decide what the next phase of the program would look like at the most important position on the field.
The answer was Beau Pribula, who looks like the best pro-style schematic fit the Tony Elliott era has seen. Virginia also added Eli Holstein, the most qualified backup quarterback the program has had in several years.
Holstein has two years of eligibility left, and he’ll get an early chance to position himself as the starter in 2027.
In Other News...
Virginia Just Got A Rival Endorsement That Changes Beau Pribula Stakes
Beau Pribulas path to Virginia has already been one of the more unusual quarterback journeys in the ACC, and it now carries an extra layer of intrigue. After leaving Penn State for Missouri and then landing in Charlottesville, Pribula enters Tony Elliotts program as the presumptive starter, with the Cavaliers hoping his experience and mobility can settle a position that always draws a spotlight.
The twist is that James Franklin, the coach who once recruited and coached Pribula at Penn State, is now on the other side of the Commonwealth. Franklin, hired by Virginia Tech after his firing in October 2024, crossed paths with Pribula at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, setting up a storyline that will only grow louder as the rivals move toward their meeting in the Commonwealth Cup. For Virginia, it adds a little more weight to every snap Pribula takes this season. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Enters Fall Camp With One Major Backfield Question
Virginias backfield is one of the more interesting roster puzzles heading into fall camp, thanks to a transfer-heavy group that now includes Peyton Lewis, Jekail Middlebrook and Solomon Beebe alongside returning back Xavier Brown. The staff has plenty of options, but it also has a real sorting job to do as it tries to map out who fits best in early-down work, who can handle passing-game duties and how the whole rotation should look by 2026.
Lewis and Middlebrook appear to be the leading candidates for the top role, while Brown looks positioned to carve out a third-down job rather than carry the offense as an every-down runner. Beebe adds another layer to the mix, and freshman Davis gives the Cavaliers a young piece to develop behind the older backs, leaving the depth chart with real competition and just enough uncertainty to make camp worth watching. [Read more 🡒]