Previewing UVA Football’s 2026 running back group

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In case you haven’t heard it enough already, the 2026 Virginia Cavaliers will be deep at the running back spot this upcoming season. A combination of transfer portal additions in Peyton Lewis (Tennessee), Jekhail Middlebrook (Middle Tennessee State), and Solomon Beebe (UAB) and a crop of returners in Xavier Brown, Xay Davis, and Noah Vaughn the ‘Hoos boasting a six-headed monster of guys who have all seen snaps in meaningful games.

That, along with returning one of the most experienced offensive line groups in the ACC, is a great thing to have going into another year with a transfer quarterback taking over, with Beau Pribula now officially tabbed as the starter. Pribula included, we’ll likely see a Cavalier offense that leans heavily on its stacked ground game behind guys like McKale Boley, Noah Josey, and Drake Metcalf leading the way up front this season, but man this running back group should be fun to watch.

The Starters

Obviously, it’s all about filling the big shoes left by J’Mari Taylor after what he did last season, as well as the helpful production of Harrison Waylee. And after getting a great player like Taylor, who steadily produced at a lower level to come to UVA in the portal, what did the general manager Justin Speros and the coaching staff do this offseason? They ran the same move back, bringing Jekail Middlebrook, who put together a similarly well-rounded season with MTSU as a junior.

Middlebrook rushed for 752 yards and four touchdowns, but was also a huge part of the Blue Raider passing game. He hauled in 40 passes for 412 yards, finishing the year with the most receptions of any running back in CUSA and second-most in reception yards at the position. His balance as a do-everything has already drawn comparisons to Taylor’s abilities, making him a perfect fit for what Des Kitchings wants to do. Because of that, it’s likely the MTSU transfer is the first tailback we see on the field against NC State.

According to early reports from the first few days of camp, it was Xavier Brown getting reps with the second unit. Brown’s had opportunities since he arrived as a part of Tony Elliott’s first class at UVA. He’s made big plays when on the field throughout his career. We all remember him backpacking the offense a year ago against Florida State after Chandler Morris hurt his hand for nearly an entire drive, as well as that gorgeous touchdown grab near the sideline.

Brown totaled 241 yards and a touchdown on 51 carries last season before a knee injury in the Washington State game ended his season. He’s a versatile guy to have alongside another transfer QB that can be a dangerous piece in the outside run game and as a featured third-down back. It’s always important to acquire running back depth, but still having it late in the year is gigantic for any team looking to chase a conference title and/or a spot in the CFP. There’s no doubt the ‘Hoos will need Brown to stay healthy for the duration of ‘26 to stay dangerous in November.

Key Backups

From a power, run straight through your face standpoint, look out for Tennessee transfer Peyton Lewis. He played his high school ball in Virginia at Salem before heading to Tennessee where he piled up 290 yards and seven touchdowns as a Volunteer in 2025. Adding a guy who’s been in the environment of SEC football is always a positive, but I’m especially excited to see how his physical running at 6-foot-1, 212 pounds looks behind this talented offensive line in his first season with the ‘Hoos.

Fellow transfer Solomon Beebe brings open-field speed and positional flexibility as another third down option. He’s a guy who should give the offense some extra flare with his ability to line up all over the field. On the ground last year, Beebe rushed for 338 yards on 56 touches, finding the endzone six times as a sophomore. He also hauled in 31 passes for 284 yards.

Beebe’s speed is what makes him dangerous in the open field. He ripped off receptions for 26, 36, and 43 yards in ‘25, regularly making defenders miss in the open field. He’s a lightning rod in space, and good things will happen when Des Kitchings schemes things up for Beebe on the perimeter. I’d also like to get it on record that he’ll take at least one kickoff for a touchdown at some point this year, maybe two, as a guy who can hopefully build on what Cam Ross was able to do in the return game in ‘25.

UVA’s depth in the backfield with those previously mentioned guys should also help Beebe’s opportunity in the passing game, which should be a fun wrinkle to see with Kitchings at the controls (let’s burn the running back pass plays from the 40 out of the playbook this year, though…please, Des.)

The Depth

Rounding out this group are two returners from last year’s historic season. Senior Noah Vaughn and sophomore Xay Davis.

Vaughn is back after a nagging ankle injury in last year’s win over William and Mary kept him out for the majority of the year. He rushed for his first 100-yard game against the Tribe before the injury, finishing the season with 174 yards on 23 carries. Vaughn’s played in big games in his career against a ranked SMU team and on the road at Virginia Tech in ‘24. It will be interesting to see if he can wedge himself into the rotation for regular playing time as a guy who has been apart of the program for a long time now.

Davis was big as a depth guy a year ago after Brown went down and Taylor playing banged up down the stretch like any RB would, given his volume. Davis toted the rock four times for 20 yards in the win over Virginia Tech, but made a name for himself with his 41 yards on 12 carries in the Gator Bowl over Missouri. Now a sophomore, we’ll see if he, like Vaughn, is able to find time in a crowded room. Regardless, the small sample size from last year suggests he could be a good piece in the backfield in the coming years.

Confidence Rating: 9/10

Ideally, August 29th proves to be the introduction of yet another well-balanced offense, but if Pribula and the receivers struggle to get the ball moving, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the running backs get more involved through the air. I think the potential of this group in the passing game hasn’t gotten nearly the attention it should have throughout the offseason, given how Middlebrook and Beebe produced at their old schools. Brown and Lewis don’t have the volume of catches to show for it, but they’ve had their moments as well.

Overall, this is one of, if not the, surest group on this team as it stands. I’m very confident the offense will be able to Big Ten-ify itself and hammer teams on the ground when the moment asks for it. I’m buying in and putting my rating at nine and for what its worth, If you told me for certain the wide receiver group will stand out and make this offense two-dimensional enough to keep defenses honest against the run, I think my confidence rating would be at 11. This is one of the best collections of tailback groups from a top to bottom depth standpoint that this program has had in a long time.

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