Jekail Middlebrook has done enough since arriving in January to put himself in position to open Virginia’s training camp with the edge in the battle for the starting running back job.
That’s the early read from Virginia coach Tony Elliott, who said Middlebrook’s consistency and ability to make plays throughout spring practices gave him a real chance to get the first crack at the job.
“I think Jekail pulled himself out in front a little bit,” Elliott said. “So, I think going into it, he’d get an opportunity with the 1s.”
Middlebrook, a transfer from Middle Tennessee, wasn’t the only back to make a push this spring, but he clearly separated himself in the eyes of the staff. Last season at Middle Tennessee, he rushed for 1,006 all-purpose yards. He also added five touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 242 yards and three scores.
Elliott said the staff was drawn to Middlebrook during the transfer process because of the way he fit what Virginia wanted in the backfield.
“We really like him,” Elliott said. “We recruited him out of high school.
We watched him. We tracked him at Tennessee.
“But then, with Middlebrook, we didn’t know much, so Speros and staff did a great job. And then I got on the phone with Jekail and talked to him and it’s like, ‘This guy is a fit.’
He’s not just about money. He loves football.
He can articulate himself and talk through plays. He’s a good teammate and I’m like, ‘This kid is a Cavalier.’
Then, when you meet him, you doubt on him, and it was a fit. Then it’s like when you see him, he puts you in the mindset that he’s Jay’Mari Taylor in the making.”
Virginia now has the Jay backfield option after transferring to UVA from East Carolina last year. Taylor became Virginia’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2016.
The rest of the running back room is still in the mix, though. Elliott said the Cavaliers have enough depth to absorb the loss of Taylor, who is now with NC State, and the departures of Marcus Carroll and Jandrey Danley, both of whom are out of eligibility. Anthony Britto and Jason Hammond are among the backs who could contribute, and UVA also added Tennessee transfer Kervin “Bubba” Choute.
Still, the competition may not be as wide open as it first looked. Elliott said the coaching staff is evaluating the backs daily, but the job Middlebrook has done so far has put him in front.
At the same time, Virginia’s offensive line is trying to sort out its own pieces, and the left side of the line has a familiar look. McKale Boley and Noah Josey are entering their fourth season playing next to each other, and offensive line coach Mike Adams said that chemistry matters.
“They’re extremely motivated,” Adams said. “I think inside here and maybe some of you guys [in the media] from the Sun Belt, but ‘Yeah, he can do it.’ He’s a really good football player.
“And Monroe, coming back from the self, but just gain confidence in that”
Adams also said the Cavaliers will lean on the line’s depth this fall, especially with some players working their way back from injuries. He pointed to the balance the group has to strike in camp: keeping linemen healthy while making sure the first team gets enough work together.
“What you’re trying to do is oversee it each day to make sure you’re on track for the first game and the totality of the season,” Adams said. “That’ll be done by the group. I’ve got 10 [linemen], and they all need to go out there and take the load off [of Robinson, Marcellus and Danley].”
Adams said the line has enough talent and depth to handle the departures, and he singled out several players who should help Virginia this fall.
In Other News...
Which Virginia Transfers Are Ready To Change Everything This Fall
Fall camp for Virginias 2026 football team opens Wednesday, and the Cavaliers are already carrying a different kind of optimism into August. With NC State looming in the season opener, the transfer class is going to be under a bright spotlight, especially the quartet of Pribula, Middlebrook, Hillman and Flores, all of whom arrive with the kind of past production and projected roles that can reshape a roster quickly if the fit is right.
What makes this group so intriguing is how varied the upside is. Middlebrook brings a receiving profile that should give Virginia a reliable option in key passing situations, Hillman looks built to add toughness and stability to the backfield, and Flores has the kind of speed that can change how defenses have to play the Cavaliers. Pribula, meanwhile, sits at the center of the whole operation as camp begins, and the early weeks should tell Virginia plenty about how close this transfer class is to changing the look of the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias Defense Has One Major Linebacker Concern Before The Opener
Virginias defense is heading toward the opener with a familiar kind of August concern, and it starts in the middle of the linebacker group. Kam Robinsons recovery from the ACL injury he suffered late last season has become the key variable for a unit that does not have much margin for error, especially with several players still trying to carve out roles and a handful of younger options expected to be pressed into action.
Tony Elliott has sounded encouraged about the position overall, but the bigger picture remains unsettled because the Cavaliers need someone to stabilize the spot quickly. Landon Danley and Maddox Marcellus are among the players in the mix, while the staff may also need one or two unproven depth pieces to make a real leap before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Raised The Stakes For Virginia's 2026 Season
ESPNs Football Power Index has put a fairly optimistic number on Virginias 2026 outlook, projecting the Cavaliers to go 9-3 and land in a tie for sixth in the ACC. The model also has Virginia ranked 32nd nationally, with an 84.8% chance of getting to a bowl game, which is the fourth-best mark in the conference and a reminder that the programs recent progress has changed the expectations around Scott Stadium.
A veteran roster and the experience gained from reaching the ACC Championship Game a year ago are clearly part of why the projection looks so strong, and the early schedule gives Virginia a chance to validate it quickly. ESPN gives the Cavaliers a 68.0% shot to open with a win over NC State, and while the rest of the nonconference slate looks manageable, the real question is whether Virginia can turn that kind of forecast into the kind of season that keeps it in the league race deeper into the fall. [Read more 🡒]