Key Position Battles That Could Define Virginia Football in 2026

Coach Tony Elliott can’t stop talking about depth, and it’s not just a talking‑point. The 2026 Cavaliers have more players who can step in and make an impact than any squad in his tenure. Still, the regular season will separate the hype from the reality, and three position battles are already sparking the most conversation around Charlottesville.

Second tight end – the glue of the offense. Elliott has called the TE spot the “glue,” and he’s got a point. When both Dakota Twitty and Sage Ennis were on the field last year, Virginia breezed past 30 points in six games. After Twitty went down, the offense sputtered, hitting that 30‑point mark only twice in the final eight contests. A solid No. 2 tight end lets the Cavaliers run 12‑personnel looks, giving the run game a bigger blocker and opening up play‑action lanes. It also hands quarterback Beau Pribula a reliable safety valve in the flat or down the middle. This year John Rogers, Connor Cox and a couple of other hopefuls are vying for that spot, and whoever lands it will essentially be a starter.

Wide receivers – can new talent fill the void? The 2025 squad produced just three receivers with over 25 catches and 250 yards, and only one tallied more than two TDs. With Trell Harris now in Oklahoma, Virginia lost six of its top seven reception leaders. The burden falls on the newcomers and the returning guys to not only replace that production but to push it higher. Names like Kam Courtney and Solomon Beebe are being watched to see if they can dominate the slot and jump‑start the return game. At the same time, a new WR‑1 must emerge to be the go‑to target for Pribula, while the rest of the corps seeks consistency.

Defensive end rotation – the “BANDIT” and No. 2 pass rusher. The Cavaliers posted 31 sacks in 2025, tying for fourth in the ACC, but that was on the back of an extra game. In per‑game terms, they sat squarely in the middle of the pack. The previous year’s sack total (19) was a steep climb, yet it still fell short of what an 11‑win team should produce. With 19 of those 31 sacks now gone, the roles once held by Mitchell Melton (the “BANDIT”) and Daniel Rickert are wide open. Matthew Fobbs‑White is a possible Melton heir, though he logged just one tackle for loss last season at Baylor. He showed promise at Tulane with 7.5 TFLs, four sacks and a forced fumble, but replication at Virginia isn’t guaranteed. On the third‑down edge, Yale transfer Ezekiel Larry—who led the Ivy League with 10.5 sacks—could be the new Rickert, but the step up to Power‑Five competition is a big ask. Columbia transfer Justin Townsend and a few veteran newcomers are also in the mix, making it a genuine battle for the pass‑rush crown.

All told, Virginia’s depth gives them a cushion, but these three contests will likely dictate whether the Cavaliers climb the ACC ladder or fall short of expectations. The players who win these internal wars will not just earn titles; they’ll help shape the narrative of the 2026 season.