The first week of Virginia’s 2026 fall camp is in the books, and the early picture is already getting clearer in a few spots - while staying messy in others.
At quarterback, nothing has moved since ACC Kickoff, when Beau Pribula was named the starter.
Running back looks like one of the more defined battles so far. Jekail Middlebrook appears to have grabbed the top spot after a strong spring and an equally strong opening week of camp. Peyton Lewis should still be part of the early-down mix, while Xavier Brown and Solomon Beebe look positioned to handle much of the third-down work.
Wide receiver remains a puzzle, but a few names keep surfacing. Rico Flores Jr. is the current leader at X, with Dillon Newton-Short and Isaiah Robinson behind him.
At Z, Da'Shawn Martin is the front-runner, followed by Jacquon Gibson and then TyLyric Coleman and Dylan Cope. In the slot, Kameron Courtney is the top name, with Tyson Davis and Josiah Abdullah next in line.
Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings and his staff are still sorting through the best first-team receiver combination, but Flores Jr., Martin, and Courtney are the clear favorites at the moment. Martin and Gibson have both been moved around the formation, and true freshman Dylan Cope has continued to draw attention.
Tight end has also started to sort itself out. Luke Rogers and Tyler Cox are battling for the backup role, but Cox’s experience and blocking give him a leg up.
Up front, Noah Josey is still the man at left guard, with Cole Surber and Mikey Gildea or Dylan Biehl behind him. There’s also been positive buzz around USC transfer Alex Payne, who has reportedly adapted well and looked good in camp.
That could put him in position to pass Jon Adair or even Ben York at left tackle in 2026. Elsewhere, things have stayed largely the same.
On the defensive side, Matthew Fobbs-White is set to play Bandit in 2026, the same job Mitchell Melton handled last season. But one of camp’s bigger surprises has been Jewett Hayes running with the first team while Fobbs-White deals with a lower-body injury. That suggests Hayes has made real strides since the offseason.
Yale transfer Ezekiel Larry is expected to serve as the team’s designated pass rusher this season, in a role similar to what Daniel Rickert filled in 2025. Inside, the staff has been pleased with Sichan John, Darrion Henry-Young, and Chase Morrison.
At defensive end, Fisher Camac is ahead of Nnanna Anywanwu, with Billy Koudelka and Justin Townsend next. At one tackle spot, Jason Hammond is first, followed by Darrion Henry-Young and Chase Morrison. At the other, Anthony Britton leads Sichan John, with Kervins Choute and Jonathan Allen behind them.
Linebacker has been shaped by injury, with Kam Robinson out and Danley, Hardy, and Brown getting plenty of run in camp. Justin Rowe has also stood out after adding about 20 pounds since 2025, now carrying his 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame well.
The SPUR spot is still one of the hardest positions to lock down. Donavon Platt is the top name there right now, with Corey Costner or Patrick Campbell next and Jalen McNair behind them. Corner is just as fluid, with Omillio Agard, Ja'Maric Morris, and Josiah Persinger in the mix.
Platt and Morris have been moving all over the field while Costner has been out. The staff wants Platt, Agard, and Jacobie Henderson on the field as much as possible in 2026, and now that Agard can do fieldwork, Platt has shifted to SPUR and slot corner. Costner has been talked about as a SPUR option all offseason, but he still hasn’t been available to show it because he’s recovering.
Safety may be Virginia’s deepest and most intriguing group. Ethan Minter is listed first at strong safety, with Jaylen Jones or Christian Ellis behind him and Montino Williams next. The starters are Hillman and Minter, but Costner, Jones, and Ellis all look capable of carving out playing time in sub-packages for Coach Rud this season.
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