Virginia's veteran-laden roster is drawing attention from NFL scouts entering the 2026 season.
Thirteen Cavaliers were included on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000, an annual watch list identifying the top 1,000 draft-eligible college football players across all levels of college football. The list serves as an early evaluation tool for NFL personnel departments and the Shrine Bowl's scouting staff ahead of the 2027 NFL Draft cycle and future all-star game invitations.
Leading the way offensively is quarterback Beau Pribula, who enters his first season as Virginia's starter after transferring from Missouri. Pribula has generated significant preseason buzz thanks to his dual-threat ability and leadership, and his inclusion on the list underscores the expectations surrounding the Cavaliers' new-look offense.
Joining him is backup quarterback Eli Holstein, giving Virginia two signal callers recognized among the nation's top draft-eligible prospects.
Perhaps no position group is better represented than the offensive line.
Virginia placed all five projected starters on the Shrine Bowl 1000 with left tackle McKale Boley, left guard Noah Josey, right guard Makilan Thomas, right tackle Monroe Mills, and center anchoring what is expected to be one of the ACC's most experienced fronts. Boley has emerged as one of the conference's premier offensive tackles entering his third season as a starter, while Mills returns after using an additional year of eligibility. Josey and Thomas provide veteran experience on the interior as Virginia looks to build one of its deepest offensive lines under offensive line coach Joey Orck.
Defensively, the Cavaliers landed five players on the watch list.
Edge rushers Matthew Fobbs-White and Fisher Camac both earned recognition after productive 2025 campaigns and will be counted on to generate pressure in John Rudzinski's defense.
Linebacker Kam Robinson also made the list despite working his way back from the ACL injury that ended his 2025 season. Robinson is expected to be available for Virginia's Week Zero opener and remains one of the defense's emotional leaders after earning All-ACC honors before his injury.
The secondary is represented by safety Brandyn Hillman along with cornerbacks Jacobie Henderson and Donavon Platt, giving Virginia three defensive backs recognized by Shrine Bowl evaluators. Hillman could be one of the conference's most versatile safety, while Henderson and Platt headline a veteran cornerback room expected to be among the strengths of the defense.
Special teams were also represented as punter Daniel Sparks rounded out Virginia's selections. Sparks has established himself as one of the league's most consistent specialists and enters the season with NFL aspirations of his own.
Virginia's 13 selections reflect the experience returning from last year's breakthrough 11-win team and highlight the number of players already on NFL scouting radars before the season begins. While inclusion on the Shrine Bowl 1000 does not guarantee an invitation to the postseason all-star game, it provides an early snapshot of the prospects NFL evaluators believe have legitimate professional potential entering the fall
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