Virginia’s secondary gave the coaching staff a lot to sort through in Saturday’s second scrimmage of training camp, and a few names stood out in a crowded group that includes 10 safeties, 8 cornerbacks and 5 more players listed simply as defensive backs.
That depth matters because several of those players can move between safety, corner and nickel, giving defensive coordinator John Rudzinski plenty of options as the staff continues to evaluate who can handle bigger roles. And after the longer-than-usual practice, the coaches came away with a clearer picture of who made a real impression.
Tony Elliott said corner transfer Justin Ross from Navy was one of the day’s best performers.
“I thought Justin Ross (a corner transfer from Navy) had a really, really good day,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “He made some good plays and then had an opportunity to be challenged and he responded to the challenge and bounced right back after a play on special teams where it kind of got the better of him.
He got challenged directly and he responded and had a pick (interception) there late in the scrimmage, which was big. He showed up.”
Ross was not the only defensive back who earned praise. Elliott also singled out Pat Campbell, a defensive back transfer from Dartmouth, and said Keke Adams, a junior safety, is trending in the right direction.
“[Campbell] got some very valuable reps that were big for us,” Elliott said. “I think Keke Adams (a junior safety) continues to take steps toward being a high level rotational guy for us that can end up being an impactful player.”
Still, some players have reached the point where making a play is almost expected rather than surprising. Brandyn Hillman, the senior safety from Portsmouth who arrived via Michigan in the portal, fit that description for Elliott.
“I could always say Hillman,” Elliott said. “I mean, because he’s always going to do something that’s going to flash, but like that’s almost the norm.
It’s like, all right, you know B Hill’s (Hillman) is going to show up. Now, let’s quit watching him.
“It’s kind of like Kam Robinson. The problem with Kam is when Kam’s out there, you just want to watch him, because you’re like, what’s he going to do next that you don’t see some of the players?
So that’s kind of how Hillman is. Hillman’s a lot like Kam.
You’ll just be over here and that (No. 6) will just go screaming that way, and you just follow the 6.”
In Other News...
Virginia Suddenly Has A Major Backfield Question Before Week 1
Virginia entered the final stretch before Week 1 with a new off-field issue to sort through in the backfield, as running back Solomon Beebe was arrested and charged with three counts of animal cruelty, court documents show. The charges are classified as Class I misdemeanors and stem from separate alleged incidents involving his pet pitbull, adding an unwelcome layer of uncertainty around a position group the Cavaliers were counting on to settle into rhythm before the season opens.
Albemarle County authorities seized the dog after the allegations surfaced, according to the court documents, and the University of Virginia declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter. For a team trying to keep its focus on football, the situation leaves another question hanging over the roster just as the calendar turns to game week. [Read more 🡒]
Carla Williams Just Put Virginia Fans On Notice Before 2026 Opener
As Virginia heads toward the 2026 season opener, athletic director Carla Williams used a community address to make the case that football sits at the center of the universitys broader momentum. She pointed to the sports value as a driver of visibility, revenue and success across Virginia Athletics, while also tying it to signs of growth in the programs reach, including more UVA applications and rising football attendance.
Williams message was as much a call to action as a status update. With the new season approaching, she urged continued investment and support from the Virginia community, framing strong engagement around football as something that can lift the entire athletic department and help shape what comes next for the Cavaliers. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Finally Looks Built For The ACC Push Fans Want
Virginia has spent the summer trying to turn promise into something sturdier, and after four weeks of preseason camp the roster finally looks like it has the kind of depth and experience that can travel in the ACC. With a season opener against N.C. State looming, the Cavaliers are carrying a mix of veteran pieces and multiple transfers from Power 4 programs, the sort of group that gives a staff more options than it has had in recent years.
The bigger reason for the optimism is the way Virginia has attacked roster-building through the transfer portal, a necessity for a program working with limited high school recruiting resources. That approach has created a team that feels more complete heading into the fall, and the coaching staff believes the offense has real potential to be better than it has been in recent seasons, even if one key part of the puzzle is still being handled carefully behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]