CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia star linebacker Kam Robinson will be a gametime decision for Saturday’s football season opener against North Carolina State, UVA coach Tony Elliott said Tuesday.

Robinson is recovering from a knee injury he suffered during the Cavaliers’ Nov. 15 road win at Duke.

“He’s back in practice, moving around, pretty much doing everything,” Elliott said. “This will be a big week, though, as we progress. When you look at where his situation is, he’s tracking ahead of schedule based off of what you tend to look at timing wise with an injury like his.”

He is a preseason All-ACC selection who had 64 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions despite missing six of the Cavaliers’ 14 games due to injury. His top-end speed and sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability would be a key defensive check on North Carolina State’s mobile quarterback, CJ Bailey.

Last season, in State’s 35-31 win over Virginia, Bailey rushed six times for 44 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 30-yard scoring run in the first quarter and a 12-yard touchdown run in the third. Robinson missed that game with a collarbone injury.

Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren called Robinson an “exceptional player.”

“Obviously, I don’t know his status yet,” Doeren said Monday.

Also Tuesday, Elliott announced that running back Solomon Beebe, who was expected to be the team’s primary kick returner this season, remains with the program but has been suspended indefinitely from competition following his Aug. 17 arrest on animal cruelty charges.

“We take very seriously the responsibility that we have to represent the University of Virginia,” Ellott said. “Out of respect for the legal process, I won’t make any more comments related to his situation.”