When Virginia linebacker Kam Robinson attended the ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte last month, he confidently said he’d be ready to play in the season opener. The Cavaliers kick off the 2026 schedule against NC State on Saturday, August 29 at 3:30 p.m.
The only reason that availability had been in question was that Robinson needed surgery to repair a torn ACL he suffered last November at Duke. He missed the rest of the season, but quickly focused on getting back on the field as quickly as possible. With that Week 0 game now less than two weeks away, the possibility of UVA’s starting linebacker being on the field remain on track.
“He is. We’ll be smart,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said Monday. “In the progression, he’s now introduced back into all of individual drills, 7 on 7 drills he was back out there today. He’ll be in that capacity going through the off day and then come back, he’ll be able to jump in and do some contact stuff.”
Having Robinson on the field would obviously boost the defense.
Robinson finished third on the team last season with 64 tackles despite playing in just 8 games. For the year, he had 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries, 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, a safety, and a blocked kick too. According to his VirginiaSports.com bio via Sports-Reference.com, the senior is the only Football Bowl Subdivision player in the last 20 years to record a blocked punt, interception return for touchdown, and fumble recovery in the same season.
The 6’2” linebacker actually turned an INT into a TD twice last season, becoming just the second UVA player to ever accomplish that feat. He recorded a 47-yard interception return in an overtime win at Louisville and then added a 35-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory at California. With another pick-6 back in 2023, it means that Robinson has returned 3 of his 5 career interceptions for touchdowns.
Robinson enters this season with 199 tackles, 8 sacks, and 5 interceptions in his career. That’s landed him spots on Freshman All-American teams (On3, College Football Network, The Athletic, College Football News), All-ACC teams (honorable mention in 2024, third team in 2025), and multiple award watch lists (Butkus Award, Nagurski Trophy).
So, again, to say his return would boost the defense is a bit of an understatement. Still, Elliott emphasized that the team will continue to evaluate Robinson’s readiness as the preseason progresses and the Hoos will take a smart, cautious approach on his final availability for the NC State game at Scott Stadium. Virginia has a bye week followed by Norfolk State, West Virginia, and Delaware for the rest of September.
“We’ll evaluate it based off his comfort level, how he feels when we get there but I think from just the medical progression, we’re on track,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t guarantee but it does leave the possibility that yeah it could happen.”
Elliott provided some other injury news as well. Elliott said that safety Corey Costner is on track to being back soon as well. He’s been limited in preseason practice to date following an unspecified summer surgery. Also on defense, incoming transfer Ezekiel Larry is not expected back until later in September after a late-season injury at Yale last fall, while linebacker Isaiah Reese will be out for a while with a Lisfranc injury. On offense, offensive lineman Grant Ellinger had a knee injury but testing showed it was not an ACL and he should be back available in a few weeks.
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