UVA Football: ‘Hoos might have to make do without J’Mari Taylor at tailback

Don’t be upset at J’Mari Taylor if he ends up deciding against playing in the Gator Bowl. The NFL prospect has a lot on the line either way.

UVA Football coach Tony Elliott said Thursday that Taylor, a first-team All-ACC selection at running back this season, “is deliberating about whether or not he’s going to play” Saturday night.

Taylor is a projected fifth- or sixth-round pick. Pro Football Focus has him at #160 on its big board, which would translate to a contract with a total value in the range of $4.6 million over four years.

For context, Taylor was reportedly compensated $400,000 for his grad-senior season at Virginia.

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Ideally, yes, it would be great to have a guy who led the ACC with 1,062 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs in the starting backfield for the Gator Bowl.

My guess would be that an NFL prospect would have one of those Lloyd’s of London insurance policies to cover such instances, but anyway.

If Taylor is a no-go, Elliott said Harrison Waylee (488 rushing yards, five TDs in 2025) would be the #1, and Noah Vaughn (174 yards in 2025) would be at #2.

Vaughn saw action in four games this season, putting up 101 yards on eight carries in the 55-16 win over William & Mary in Week 3, but he injured an ankle in that one, and reinjured the ankle in the 31-21 win at Cal in October.

Further down the tailback depth chart would be Davis Lane and Xay Davis, who got limited reps later in the season.