With the release of the Virginia Cavaliers’ first official depth chart on Tuesday, the college football world finally got to feast its eyes on the overwhelming amount of experience the ’Hoos are bringing to the table in 2026.
While the starting offensive line, which features a pair of seventh-year players and a pair of sixth-year players, stole the spotlight, Virginia’s tight end group is yet another well-seasoned bunch ready to make a difference for the ’Hoos as they look to build on their historic 2025 campaign.
Check out more of STL’s 2026 positional previews here:
Starters:
#9 | Dakota Twitty (fifth-year)
A tantalizing pass-catching talent, fifth-year Dakota Twitty will get another crack at Virginia’s starting tight end role in 2026. The Columbus, N.C., native came to college as a wide receiver. But at 6-foot-5 (and now over 245 pounds), he soon transitioned to tight end, where he made seven appearances in 2023 and caught 10 passes in 2024.
Last season, with the reins of the position group in his hands, Twitty got off to a bit of a slow start, averaging just 1.5 receptions through the first four weeks. But in Virginia’s unforgettable upset of then No. 8 Florida State, Twitty delivered a career-high five receptions and a glimpse of his sky-high potential. Unfortunately, Twitty’s season would end abruptly after suffering a leg injury the following week against Louisville.
Entering 2026, Twitty is healthy once again and a major breakout candidate in the ACC. His blocking ability improved dramatically last season, and he’s a nightmare scout for any opposing defense. Though his career stats won’t turn any heads, don’t be surprised if Twitty is considered one of the conference’s best at tight end by year’s end.
Key backups:
#88 | Connor Cox (fourth-year)
After stints with South Carolina and North Carolina, Connor Cox joins the ’Hoos as the 29th-highest-rated tight end transfer, according to 247Sports. Cox made only three starts for the Tar Heels in 2025, finishing the season with just five receptions for 21 yards. But at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Cox is a big frame with plenty enough experience to be a solid blocker and sneaky pass-catching option.
#89 | John Rogers (third-year)
The youngest tight end option on Virginia’s depth chart, third-year John Rogers returns after appearing in 14 games for the ’Hoos last season. Rogers finished with just nine receptions for 101 yards in 2025, but he had a knack for making plays in big moments. He delivered a 14-yard grab in overtime against Louisville and hauled in two receptions during Virginia’s Gator Bowl victory over Missouri.
Confidence rating: 7/10
Virginia was dominant when utilizing two-tight-end sets last season, a big part of why the ’Hoos averaged over 45 points per game through the first four weeks. After Twitty went down, however, the Cavaliers never recaptured that level of offensive electricity, despite a surprise breakout from Sage Ennis.
There’s no reason not to be excited about Twitty’s potential this season as a safety valve for quarterback Beau Pribula and a key playmaker, especially considering the group of unproven pass-catchers on the outside. The depth of the tight end group, if anything, is the only area of concern. Can Cox or Rogers make an Ennis-esque late-career ascension into production? If not, the ’Hoos are one injury away from concerns.
