Competition may be the lifeblood of a football program, but Virginia enters this season with a lineup that already has a pretty sturdy outline. Even after losing 13 starters from the Gator Bowl win over Missouri, the Cavaliers have a handful of jobs that look close to locked down - and a few others where the race is still very much alive.
At quarterback, Missouri transfer Beau Pribula arrived in camp as QB1 and still looks like the man for Aug. 29 against N.C. State. Pitt transfer Eli Holstein is there if needed, but Pribula’s arm strength and mobility helped him win the job.
The offensive line is even more settled. Virginia’s five linemen, plus tight end Dakota Twitty, are all graduate students, and together they bring 162 collegiate starts. That group should be the backbone of the offense.
At one running back spot, Virginia has a healthy option back in the mix. He was the team’s most improved offensive player in 2024 and was rolling early in 2025 before a season-ending leg injury against Louisville in October. John Rogers is the backup.
The real traffic on offense comes at the skill spots. Two Tennessee state transfers, Lewis and Middlebrook, are set to battle for a backfield role.
Lewis, listed at 6-1 and 212 pounds, has the size and speed edge and comes from Tennessee, while Middlebrook, at 5-10 and 198, has drawn praise from coaches for his versatility and shiftiness and may have the early lead. Xavier Brown remains in the mix too.
Wide receiver is the messiest competition on the offense. UCLA transfer Flores is the favorite at the X spot, while freshmen Cope and Carter have a shot to push transfers Martin from Kent State and Davis from Central Michigan for work at Z and as backups behind Flores. Courtney, who caught 25 passes last year, is also being challenged by Gibson, who had 63 catches at UMass.
Up front on defense, Camac appears set after starting 13 games and recording 4.5 sacks last season. The other spot is open, with Columbia transfer Townsend and Yale transfer Larry trying to make their case. Cazeem Moore is a name to watch as well after last week’s court ruling restored his final season of eligibility; he had three sacks a year ago.
At linebacker, Hammond is back as a starter and looks likely to keep his role. The other spots are far less settled.
The staff likes John, who handled backup duty as a freshman and arrived this summer in better shape. That group should rotate heavily, and there are plenty of candidates in the mix.
In the secondary, Robinson stands out if his torn ACL is fully healed. He was a preseason all-ACC pick and one of the nation’s most dynamic defensive playmakers before the injury. Marcellus and Danley, who filled in a year ago, will fight for the other starting job, while freshmen Derek Uran and Dallas Brannon are expected to contribute as backups.
Platt, who made nine starts last season, gives Virginia a familiar option at one spot in the defensive backfield. Agard, a Wisconsin transfer, has impressed coaches with his speed and aggressiveness and could matter in the pass-heavy ACC, though he is working back from a wrist injury suffered in spring practice. Graduate student Jam Jackson, who started 12 games in 2024 before sitting out last season with an injury, is also trying to get back into the rotation.
The safety trio looks the most established of the bunch. Minter, a former high school quarterback, started all 14 games as a sophomore and is viewed as a coach on the field.
Hillman arrives after helping Michigan win the 2024 national title and was Virginia’s top defensive transfer. Costner made an impact as a freshman last season, starting twice late in the year and grabbing two interceptions.
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The appeal is not just the change of scenery, but the shape of the player himself. He arrives with enough production to stand out in a crowded portal class and enough room to grow that his next step at Virginia will be watched closely all season. For the Cavaliers, the question is how quickly that talent translates, because if it does, this could become one of the more important development stories on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
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One of the more notable developments has come in the backfield, where Jekail Middlebrook has drawn steady praise from the staff for his versatility, attitude and work so far. He has emerged as the leading candidate for the top job, which gives Virginia a potential anchor in a room still sorting itself out. The receiver group, meanwhile, remains a work in progress, with the staff expecting certain players to separate from the pack as camp unfolds and the rotation begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]