Position Group Preview: Running Backs

2024 Performance

UVa ran the ball a lot better as a team in 2024 than they did in the first two years of the Tony Elliott era. Although the Hoos put up very pedestrian numbers as a team, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, the top two running backs on the team were both efficient and had chunk plays here and there. They did struggle to cap drives though, with UVa’s running backs combining for just four rushing touchdowns on the season. For comparison, that’s as many as backup quarterbacks Tony Muskett and Grady Brosterhaus had, each.

Last season, UVa had two backs that shared most of the carries. Kobe Pace led the team in rushing yards in his final collegiate season, going for 499 yards on 114 carries, average 4.4 yards per rush. Pace never had a 100-yard rushing game at UVa, but did go for 93 on 11 carries against Richmond, and 83 on 19 attempts against Boston College. Pace found the end zone on the ground three times, against Richmond, Coastal Carolina and Pittsburgh. Pace did have an impact as a receiver during his time in Charlottesville, and last year caught 21 passes for 189 yards, and had a few big reception plays here and there. 

UVa’s other back that saw a lot of carries was Xavier Brown, who had a breakout season. Brown, who missed all of 2023 after coming on early in the 2022 season as a true freshman, showed big-play ability in 2024. He rushed 80 times for 488 yards, averaging better than six yards per carry. Brown had the best game of his career in the win at Coastal Carolina, rushing nine times for 171 yards but somehow didn’t reach the end zone on any of those big runs. Brown scored a touchdown in UVa’s road win at Pitt, rushing for 68 yards on 15 carries in that game. Unfortunately, Brown saw another season cut short by injury, picking up a knock in the loss to SMU and missing the season finale at Virginia Tech. 

The Projected Starter(s): J’Mari Taylor, Xavier Brown and Harrison Waylee

While there are only so many touches to go around, we expect UVa to attempt to have a three-headed monster at running back this year. Virginia hasn’t really had one lead back in any season under this staff, and it seems like this year the Hoos could go with transfers J’Mari Taylor, Harrison Waylee, along with the returning Brown, in some combination.

Taylor showed a lot of potential in the spring game, after coming over from NC Central. Taylor is a back that can run between the tackles, has big-play ability, and can catch the ball out of the backfield. He and Brown have overlapping skillsets, but UVa can certainly use two players that do a lot of the same things, and having multiple guys that can hit big plays is a huge plus for a program that has struggled to create them. 

Waylee seems like a more physical option, but he had some big runs in his career as well. Waylee had stops at Northern Illinois and Wyoming prior to UVa and when he’s been healthy, he has been very productive. 

It’s a bit of a cop out not to single out a starter, but it’s really tough to know which of these three could emerge as the top dog, but it seems like they’ll all get opportunities and carries. 

The Depth Options: Noah Vaughn, Xay Davis, Davis Lane

UVa has three backs likely to play a lot this year, and three more to back them up. Noah Vaughn could end up playing more than we’re expecting, and did rush 36 times for 120 yards last season. Vaughn could simply be caught behind a bunch of talented and older backs right now, but if someone goes down with an injury or Vaughn has a good camp, perhaps he could get back into the rotation. 

UVa also adds freshman Xay Davis, who comes to the program from The Collegiate School. Davis rushed for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns in just seven games last season. It seems likely, given how much upperclassmen depth UVa has this season, that Davis will redshirt his true freshman year. Virginia also returns Davis Lane, who has been at running back for a while now after starting his career as a QB before bouncing around a bit. Given how much UVa struggled with running back depth at the end of the season, it’s good to have six scholarship backs in the fold. 

The Breakout Candidate: J’Mari Taylor

It seems odd to give this to a senior, but Taylor fits the breakout candidate mold given that he’s coming up from the FCS ranks. Taylor’s speed flashes on film, and he was quite productive at the FCS level. That, plus his production in the spring gives hope that he can put it all together for the Hoos in the fall. If anyone on this roster seems most-likely to take command of the running back job and take a lion’s share of the carries, we’re betting on Taylor at this point. 

The Big Question: What will UVa’s run/pass balance look like?

Virginia’s offense has been pretty pass heavy in the first few years of the Elliott era, mostly by default. The Hoos struggled to open up holes in the running game over the last three years, and never really had a dominant lead back. This year’s group is probably the best stable of backs the Hoos have had since this staff arrived, and they’ve also upgraded their offensive line room significantly. Will those two changes lead to a more ground-heavy attack? If so, Virginia might have the backs that can take advantage of those opportunities in tandem. Time will tell if UVa will be more balanced, or will have gunslinger Chandler Morris let it rip in the passing game.