J’Mari Taylor highlights group of undrafted UVA football offensive players to earn NFL deals

While Virginia Cavaliers running back J’Mari Taylor was certainly hoping to have his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft, the former ’Hoo will still get his chance to earn an NFL roster spot this summer. Taylor, who earned First Team All-ACC honors in 2025, agreed to an undrafted free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night in the hours following the conclusion of the draft.

Taylor began his collegiate career as a walk-on at North Carolina Central but went on to finish inside the top 10 of the Eagles’ all-time rushing yards leaderboard before taking his talents to Charlottesville for the 2025 season.

Advertisement

At Virginia, Taylor quickly separated himself as the workhorse in a crowded Cavalier backfield, rushing for a team-high 1,062 yards (third-most in the ACC) and 14 touchdowns while adding an additional 253 yards and a score through the air.

At 5-foot-9, 199 pounds, Taylor’s metrics at the NFL Combine weren’t otherworldly (he received a below-average ‘Athleticism Score’ of 57), but UVA fans know just how talented he is between the lines. With many mock drafts predicting Taylor to be a day-three pick, the Jaguars are getting a steal in the versatile Charlotte, North Carolina, native. Taylor runs with a deadly combination of power and elusiveness, evidenced by multiple breakaway touchdown runs, including a season-high 78-yard scamper in a UVA win at Duke in mid-November.

With Taylor going undrafted, Virginia’s streak of having a player selected in four consecutive NFL drafts comes to an end. Three former ’Hoos who went on to finish their collegiate careers elsewhere, however, did find homes in the draft.

Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who began his career as a quarterback with Virginia in 2021, went 43rd overall to the Miami Dolphins. Wide receiver Malachi Fields, who racked up 1,849 receiving yards in three seasons at UVA from 2021 to 2024, went 74th overall to the New York Giants. And offensive lineman Logan Taylor, who was in Charlottesville from 2021 to 2022, went 202nd overall to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Advertisement

In addition to Taylor, three other members of Virginia’s 2025 offense found NFL landing spots for the summer. Quarterback Chandler Morris earned an invite to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie camp; electric wide receiver and returner Cam Ross agreed to a UDFA deal with the Denver Broncos; and tight end Sage Ennis earned a rookie camp invite as a fullback with the Miami Dolphins.

In total, 10 ’Hoos found NFL homes for the summer, and they’ll get the chance to prove they belong at the next level in camp.