PFF Grades and Snap Counts From Virginia's Loss to NC State

Who stood out in Virginia's Loss to NC State yesterday?

Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Justin Rowe (45) runs with the ball during the warmups of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpackat Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Virginia went on the road and put up a good fight, but the Cavaliers could not defeat NC State. UVA put up over 500 yards of offense, but a couple of failed red zone trips and their inability to pressure the quarterback and stop the run were their undoing. Now Virginia will look to regroup at home vs William & Mary next Saturday in Charlottesville.

PFF (Pro Football Focus) has released its grades for Saturday's game, and here is how the Cavaliers graded out, with the snap counts in parentheses.

Offense

Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) runs with the football during the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

1. RB J'Mari Taylor- 80.0 (46)

2. Chandler Morris- 78.8 (76)

3. Dillon Newton-Short- 72.5 (6)

4. Jahmal Edrine- 68.0 (57)

5. WR Trell Harris- 67.2 (57)

6. TE John Rogers- 66.0 (4)

7. TE Sage Ennis- 64.0 (22)

8. McKale Boley- 62.6 (76)

9. RB Xavier Brown- 61.8 (22)

10. OL Ethan Sipe- 61.2 (24)

11. RB Noah Vaughn- 60. 5 (8)

12. OL Brady Wilson- 60.4 (76)

13. WR Suderian Harrison- 60.1 (3)

14. WR Eli Wood- 59.9 (14)

15. WR Kam Courtney- 58.9 (9)

16. WR Cam Ross- 56,7 (58)

17. OL Noah Josey- 55.7 (76)

18. WR Jayden Thomas- 54.9 (15)

19. TE Dakota Twitty- 54.4 (59)

20. OL Drake Metcalf- 51.9 (76)

21. OL Jack Witmer- 37.8 (52)

Defense

Sep 6, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) holds the football during the first half of the game against Virginia Cavaliers at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

1. DL Jahmeer Carter- 77.7 (32)

2. DL Anthony Britton- 73.1 (23)

3. DL Hunter Osborne- 70.9 (16)

4. DE Daniel Rickert- 69.7 (27)

5. DL Jason Hammond- 68.6 (25)

6. DB Ethan Minter- 66.9 (47)

7. DB Corey Costner- 66.7 (10)

8. LB James Jackson- 66.7 (34)

9. DB Jordan Robinson- 65.3 (37)

10. DE Mitchell Melton- 65.2 (42)

11. DL Cazeem Moore- 62.0 (24)

12. DE Fisher Carmac-61.5 (34)

13. DB Donovan Platt- 58.3 (50)

14. DB Emmanuel Karnley- 55.4 (24)

15. DB Devin Neal- 54.7 (49)

16. DB Christian Charles- 54.4 (20)

17. DB Jason Prevard- 49.8 (44)

18. DL Jacob Holmes- 47.6 (17)

19. LB Maddox Marcellus- 46.0 (24)

20. LB Landon Danley- 38.8 (53)

21. DB Caleb Hardy- 35.1 (5)

A lot to play for

Aug 30, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott celebrates after a touchdown against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers during the second quarter at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

While the loss is certainly disappointing. Virginia head coach Tony Elliott says this team still has its goals in front of them:

"And so going back to that question that we were at a lot we convert a lot of third -longs and have no sacks All right, and the quarterback didn't get hit much, you know versus that front and so just guys executing, giving the quarterback protection in the pocket and guys being where they're supposed to be and then the quarterback being dialed in on the defensive structure to know where to go through his progression and the guys made some plays. The guys went down sliding up balls, balls up over their head, man, they made the quarterback right, and it was a beautiful thing to see, but hopefully that gives the last two games we've been, you know, over 50 % on third down, which we're going to need to be throughout better in the red zone. We've got to make those field goals in the red zone. And in Will Bettridge, he'll go to work, and he'll find a way to put it through the uprights. And we're going to continue to give him opportunities to kick. So I know there's no moral victories, but we're going to get on this bus. We're not going to have our heads down. We're going to stay encouraged. We're going to stay positive. My challenge to the team is we either get better, we get better, or we either get defined by this game, or we get developed, and I'm choosing to get better, I'm choosing to get developed, and I believe those guys are going to do the same thing."

Virginia will be back on the field this Saturday against William & Mary.