Virginia’s 2026 season is about to get rolling, and the transfer class could be one of the biggest reasons the Cavaliers look different right away.
Fall camp opens Wednesday, and with the opener set for Aug. 29 against NC State at Scott Stadium, the new faces are moving into focus. Some additions will need time to settle into ACC football. Others look ready to hit the ground running.
One of the clearest instant-impact names is quarterback Pribula. He’s already changed the conversation at the position, and once games start, his running ability is likely to jump off the screen.
He can power through defenders, and his deep ball may be better than the tape-first crowd realizes. He’s taller than Chandler Morris and, by all accounts in the source, a much better runner.
The arm may not be as far behind Morris’ reputation as some think, either. That gives Pribula a mix Virginia can work with immediately: a high ceiling, but also a dependable baseline for early production.
In the backfield, Middlebrook looks like the safest all-around bet. His value starts with what he does as a receiver - he ranked top five nationally among running backs in receiving yards in 2025 - and he brings real reliability in pass protection, too.
Peyton Lewis seemed to have the edge a few months ago, but that picture may have changed heading into camp. Even if Lewis ends up starting, Middlebrook should have a strong hold on the third-and-long role, and possibly third-and-medium as well.
On defense, Hillman fits the Devin Neal role and appears locked in as a starter. He brings a steady, detail-oriented game that coaches can trust.
He tackles with force, doesn’t miss much, and has the strength to punish skill players who think they can slip by him. The hit reel is the kind of thing that gets attention fast.
Then there’s Flores, whose calling card is speed. He should be one of the fastest wide receivers Virginia has had in the last few years, and that alone makes him a player who can light up Scott Stadium.
But it’s not just the burst. Flores also plays with a fierce competitive edge, the kind that should make him an early favorite with Virginia fans.
That intensity matches what some of the other transfers bring, along with returners who came inches from winning an ACC Championship.
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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
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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 🡒]