CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Four passes.

That was the extent of the look Virginia fans got at likely starting quarterback Beau Pribula during Saturday’s annual spring football game.

The Missouri transfer played three series in the first half, going completing two passes for 40 yards, highlighted by a 28-yard completion to wide receiver Rico Flores Jr.

“I think he’s a dynamic athlete that has a lot of confidence extending plays,” UVA coach Tony Elliott said. “I thought he did a solid job, too, of sitting in there and trying to find his progression and driving the ball when he needed to. So, that’s the area where we’re going to continue to help him evolve and develop.”

Pribula did have an 11-yard run Saturday.

“We know he that he can run,” Elliott said of Pribula. “We know that he likes to run. We know he’s a dynamic guy that has a ton of confidence in doing it.”

The scouting report on Pribula is that he’s a gifted athlete and an effective runner, but questions remain about his abilities as a passer. At Missouri, Pribula threw just 270 passes in 10 games, throwing for 1,941 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Taking out lost yardage for sacks, Pribula ran for over 450 yards and six touchdowns. The Tigers’ offense leaned heavily on its running backs, with Ahmad Hardy racking up 1,649 yards and Jamal Roberts had 753.

That certainly could be how UVA’s offense operates in 2026.

Virginia is strong in the offensive line, deep and talented at running back, and largely unproven at wide receiver.

Saturday, the offense featured the Cavaliers’ running back corps, with Tennessee transfer Peyton Lewis, Middle Tennessee State transfer Jekail Middlebrook, UAB transfer Solomon Beebe and sophomore returner Xay Davis all having encouraging outings in the 59-40 win for the defense.

“It was good to see all of them be able to run the ball,” Elliott said. “Not a ton of drop off between anyone of them who’s out there”

Lewis broke off a 51-yard run in the first quarter but was caught from behind by defensive end Fisher Camac. However, Elliott said afterward, Lewis had been battling a stomach flu and believed that slowed him down.

A fifth running back, Noah Vaughn, sat out the spring game with inflammation

Virginia used an amended scoring system that gave the defense six points for turnovers, three points for three-and-outs and a point for forcing a punt. The offense scored via traditional means: six points for touchdowns, three for field goals and one for extra points.

Quarterbacks weren’t live in the game, meaning they could not be tackled. That takes away a huge facet of Pribula’s game and made evaluating his play even more difficult.

“What we really want to evaluate, and me particularly, is his ability in the passing game,” offensive coordinator Des Kitchings said. “What is his strength? What is his weakness? What do we need to cater to?”

A year ago, Kitchings crafted a record-setting offense behind the poised play of transfer quarterback Chandler Morris. But Morris lost a court bid to force the NCAA to allow him to play another year of college football in 2026.

UVA went out and added Pribula and Pittsburgh transfer Eli Holstein, who also was limited to the first half, to the quarterback group. Kitchings called the competition between Pribula, Holstein and Cole Greer, “still fluid,” but all signs point to Pribula being under center when the Cavaliers open the season Aug. 29 against North Carolina State in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

What the offense with him at quarterback will look like is still largely a mystery.