Standing at a 5-1 record — including a 3-0 mark in ACC play for the first time since 2007 — Virginia football is a force to be reckoned with. Only three ACC teams are 3-0 in conference play. This is one of them.
Whether it be through pummeling inferior opponents such as Stanford, Coastal Carolina or William & Mary, or securing signature wins over favored foes in Florida State and Louisville, these Cavaliers have answered the bell time and time again. Below, The Cavalier Daily’s football beat writers dissect Virginia’s success.
Who is Virginia’s MVP so far?
Xander Tilock, Sports Editor: Going with the entire offense seems like cheating, so I’ll take offensive coordinator Des Kitchings — who has become one of the nation’s best coordinators. Virginia scored 30-plus points just eight times in its previous three seasons but have done so in all six games this season. They were the only team in the country to do so before week seven.
Ryan Weiner, Senior Associate: It has to be graduate quarterback Chandler Morris. Morris has everything one would want in an offensive captain. He is poised under pressure, puts his body on the line for the team and has incredible chemistry with his teammates. When the game gets tough, Morris finds a way to pull out a victory, whether it is his diving rushing touchdown against Florida State or his seven-yard scramble to set up the winner against Louisville.
Ben McNiff, Senior Writer: He’s only appeared in half of the games, but it’s become apparent that junior linebacker Kam Robinson is going to be playing on Sundays in a year or two. In three games, he already has a sack, two tackles for a loss and has been responsible for two turnovers. Scouts from multiple NFL teams were on hand to witness his impressive performance against Florida State. His importance to the defense cannot be understated.
Theo Moll, Staff Writer: I’ll take graduate running back J’Mari Taylor. Taylor came to Virginia with little Power Four experience, transferring this offseason from NC Central, an FCS school. In six games, the rusher has put to rest any preseason doubts. With 24 more carries, he will have more rushing attempts than any Cavalier running back last season. If Taylor keeps going, he could be the first Virginia back to break 1,000 yards since Jordan Ellis in 2018.
What is your biggest takeaway from the first six games?
XT: This offensive line has been phenomenal. After three years of allowing at least 3.4 sacks per game, the Cavaliers have given up less than one sack per game this year. That ranks inside the top 15 teams nationally. Even more impressive, this is happening without the team’s top left tackle, graduate Monroe Mills, and top two right tackles, graduate Makilan Thomas and graduate Wallace Unamba — who was just dismissed from the team.
RW: The transfer portal certainly helped this team, but the development of returning players has been integral to team success. Junior Kam Robinson, sophomore safety Ethan Minter and senior running back Xavier Brown have all been pieces from the 2024 squad which are integral in this season’s success. In short, the loyalty and development of players from last season should be celebrated alongside transfer portal success.
BM: Everyone was wrong about Coach Tony Elliott. He received boatloads of criticism for struggling over the past three seasons. He wasn’t even the first choice for the job — yet Elliott has this squad at 5-1. They are ranked 18th in the country, their best ranking since 2019. Even more important for the long-term future of this program, however, is the fact that his players seem to believe in what he’s building.
TM: Virginia has the pieces necessary to contend in the ACC and beyond — but the rest of the defense cannot continue compensating for the mistakes of the secondary. Virginia’s pass defense ranks in the bottom half of FBS programs in passing yards allowed. Two games in a row, the Cavaliers have surrendered 140-plus yards. Virginia needs to iron out those back-end defensive issues if it hopes to make a postseason impact.
What is one storyline to watch going forward?
XT: With six games left, Virginia is one win away from bowl game eligibility. But this team can think bigger. The Cavaliers sit tied for first place in the ACC and are expected to be favored in all but one of their remaining games. This team could end up controlling its own destiny, and an ACC Championship game appearance is a very real possibility, especially considering that reinforcements are coming for an already productive offensive line.
RW: The return of junior running back Noah Vaughn, likely after the bye week, means that the development of the Virginia rushing game will be interesting to watch. Vaughn played an integral role in games against Coastal Carolina and William & Mary. Alongside Vaughn, Taylor is tied for third in the nation in rushing touchdowns, while Brown and senior running back Harrison Waylee also have over 200 yards each.
BM: After getting carted off early in the victory over Louisville, senior tight end Dakota Twitty returned to the sideline for the remainder of the game in a boot. Pending tests, he’ll likely miss time. Fans should keep an eye on sophomore tight end John Rogers, who has been solid in his few opportunities, scoring his first career touchdown against the Tribe and making what was essentially a game-clinching catch in overtime against the Cardinals.
TM: What will the Cavaliers do on fourth downs in opposing territory? Senior kicker Will Bettridge has drilled crucial kicks for Virginia this season, but he has also missed a notable three field goals. Against Louisville, the Cavaliers went for it three times on fourth down. But Bettridge has not missed a field goal since Stanford, so maybe Elliott’s decision is a vote of confidence in his offense, rather than a lack thereof in his kicker.
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