CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As Virginia football moves closer to its Aug. 29 season opener against North Carolina State, the Cavaliers’ lineup is starting to come in focus.

Everyone knows that UVA has a new starting quarterback in Beau Pribula, the Missouri transfer, and that they return all-conference players in linebacker Kam Robinson and left tackle McKale Boley. But beyond the obvious and established stars, who are the players who could make or break UVA’s 2026 season?

1) Running back Jekail Middlebrook

The Middle Tennessee State transfer is just 5-foot-10 and 198 pounds, a big part of why many didn’t view him as an every-down back at the power conference level. Virginia also has Tennessee transfer Peyton Lewis and returns veteran Xavier Brown at the running back position. But it’s been Middlebrook who has grabbed center stage so far this preseason.

“You love guys that are three-phase guys,” UVA offensive coordinator Des Kitchings said. “Runners, pass catches and pass blockers.”

Middlebrook ran for 752 yards in 11 games last season, while also proving himself a weapon catching passes out of the backfield. Lest we forget, Virginia found great success a year ago with another undersized, small school back. North Carolina Central transfer running back, all 5-foot-9 and 204 pounds of him, was a first-team All-ACC pick last year after rushing for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns.

2) Safety Brandyn Hillman

A transfer from Michigan, the 6-foot, 190-pounder could potentially fill the role vacated by safety Devin Neal, last season’s leading tackler for the Cavaliers. Hillman may join Ethan Minter and Corey Costner in the defensive backfield. Both return after seeing time at safety positions last year. Hillman, an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last season, started all 12 games he played in last season for the Wolverines, finishing fourth on the team with 49 tackles.

“He’s a physical guy that flies around, loves contact,” UVA coach Tony Elliott said. “He loves to compete.”

3) Right tackle Monroe Mills

With all the attention and preseason adulation being heaped on Boley and left guard Noah Josey, it might be easy to overlook the 6-foot-7, 322-pound Mills, who will be asked to anchor the right side of the line. Mills was one of UVA’s most touted transfer portal additions going into the 2025 season before a spring knee injury cost him the year. Mills, who got married in June at Hazy Mountain Winery in Afton, joined the Cavaliers after spending a season at Louisville and two years each at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

Now, Mills will be part of a veteran offensive line that figures to be one of the strengths of this UVA team. Drake Metcalf is back at center and Makilan Thomas will play right guard after missing last season with an injury.

4) Defensive end Devon Baxter

Virginia needs an edge rusher to play opposite from Fisher Camac, one of the most important defensive players the team retained. Baylor transfer Matthew Fobbs-White was the favorite, but an injury has limited him in preseason camp, opening the door for Hillman’s Michigan teammate, Devon Baxter.

Tony Elliott and the UVA staff had recruited Baxter out of high school. He was limited in the spring as he recovered from a shoulder injury. Elliott said Baxter stood out during the team’s first five practices.

“You can’t help but find him because of his size,” Elliott said of the 6-foot-6, 244-pounder, “but also his ability to be productive.”

5) Wide receiver Kam Courtney

UVA remade its wide receiver corps in the transfer portal, adding Rico Flores (UCLA), Jacquon Gibson (UMass), Da’Shawn Martin (Kent State) and Tyson Davis (Central Michigan) in the offseason. But Kourtney has been a star-in-waiting for the Cavaliers since joining the program in 2024. That year, he was named the team’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. His role expanded in 2025, when he caught 25 passes as a backup at slot receiver, and ran four times, scoring his first college touchdown on a 23-yard end around in a blowout win over William & Mary.

Kitchings said Courtney needs to become a more consistent pass catcher to have an even larger role this season.

“He’s a competitor,” Kitchings said. “He’s not a big rah-rah guy, so sometimes you may not hear him, but I need to feel him. Every day. I need to feel his impact in the receiver (room). I need to feel his impact in our offense.”