What’s a younger Virginia player supposed to do on a roster this veteran-heavy?
That’s the dilemma inside Tony Elliott’s program, where the projected starting lineup is loaded almost entirely with seniors and graduate students. For a freshman or sophomore, snaps won’t come easy. But in a sport where rosters turn over fast and transfer portal decisions can come just as quickly, Virginia also has to keep those younger Cavaliers engaged.
Elliott would rather not have to bring in north of 30 or 35 transfers every year. Stability matters. So even though Virginia’s recent high school signing classes haven’t been ranked among the nation’s best, there are still younger players in the room who can help shape what could be a second straight memorable season.
One obvious path is waiting for the opening no team can avoid: injury. When a veteran goes down, the next man up has to be ready.
That was the case in 2025 for tight end John Rogers. He had barely played as a freshman before No. 2 tight end Dakota Twitty was injured against Louisville in the middle of the season.
Rogers took over the role and finished with nine catches for 101 yards, then added two more receptions in the Gator Bowl win over Missouri. He now looks like Twitty’s heir apparent.
Corey Costner followed a similar route at SPUR. He split time with Ja'Son Prevard before Prevard skipped the Gator Bowl and entered the transfer portal. Prevard is now at Kansas State, and Costner has the clearest path of any underclassman to start for Virginia in the season opener.
Young players can also earn trust the old-fashioned way: grinding in practice and making the most of garbage time. Rogers showed that last fall against William & Mary, when he caught three passes and scored a touchdown. This season’s early games against Norfolk State, Delaware and Syracuse could give Virginia’s backups a similar stage to show what they can do when the score gets out of hand.
There’s also the value of mental reps, with backups locked in on the sideline and imagining the next snap before it happens. Virginia’s coaches have praised the older players for helping younger teammates, sharing experience and sharpening technique along the way.
That kind of guidance could matter for Alex Payne, a former four-star offensive lineman who transferred to Virginia after his freshman season at Southern Cal. The Cavaliers have five graduate students projected to start on the offensive line this year, which means the next wave of blockers will matter even more next fall. Working alongside McKale Boley, Noah Josey and Monroe Mills can only help Payne’s development.
Special teams offers another lane for younger Cavaliers to get on the field. In a game with three phases, those snaps matter just as much as offense and defense. Virginia’s 2025 loss to Wake Forest was a reminder of that, since the game’s only touchdown came on a punt return.
The kicker, punter and return man get most of the attention, but special teams is also a place where backup linebackers, tight ends and defensive backs can make their mark. A block, a tackle in space or a punt downed inside the 10 can swing momentum in a hurry. It can also catch the coaching staff’s eye as a young player climbs the depth chart.
The chances may be limited, but they are there. For Virginia’s underclassmen, the door is open if they’re ready to walk through it.
In Other News...
Virginias Backfield Just Became A Real 2026 Debate
Virginia spent much of 2025 leaning on the run game, and it showed in the way the offense was built. The Cavaliers threw it 492 times but still logged 548 rushing attempts, with the running back group handling about 453 of those carries. With the offense expected to stay ground-heavy, there is already a reasonable case that the backfield workload could climb again in 2026, especially if the overall rushing total rises by roughly seven percent.
The bigger question is how those carries get divided up. Virginias current depth chart and what the backs showed last season both point to a real competition, and injuries remain part of the conversation after affecting the 2025 team. The staff has some choices to make, and the way it sorts out could shape not just the backfield rotation but the entire rhythm of the offense next season. [Read more 🡒]
Virginias Veteran Lineup Could Change Everything For The Cavaliers
Virginias football roster is leaning hard into experience this fall, and that could give the Cavaliers a very different kind of foundation than theyve had in recent seasons. The expected starting group is built mostly around upperclassmen, with a heavy dose of graduate players on offense and an offensive line that brings all-conference experience into the mix. On paper, it is the kind of veteran base that can help settle a team early in the season and give the coaching staff more confidence in the core pieces up front.
The continuity does not stop there. Virginias defense is also expected to feature a long list of fourth- and fifth-year players who already know the system and have worked together across multiple seasons, while special teams brings back familiar faces with years of experience in those roles. For a program trying to turn stability into results, that kind of age and familiarity can matter a lot, especially when the margin for error is small and the smallest details often decide games. [Read more 🡒]