Virginia football RB Solomon Beebe suspended indefinitely
Beebe
Virginia running back and kick returner Solomon Beebe has been suspended indefinitely, fifth-year Cavaliers coach Tony Elliott announced Tuesday.
Beebe was arrested last week and charged with three counts of animal cruelty after a housekeeper at his Albemarle County apartment complex reported seeing Beebe punch his pet pit bull.
“He’s currently suspended indefinitely from competition,” Elliott said. “He’s still a member of our team. We take very seriously the responsibility that we have to represent the University of Virginia, so out of respect for the legal process, I won’t make any more comments related to his situation at this time.”
The dog was seized on Aug. 13 by animal control officers in the county and held temporarily in protective custody.
Virginia running back Solomon Beebe takes a carry during the Cavaliers' spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
When Beebe appeared in Albemarle General District Court last Thursday, he agreed to let his father drive up from Alabama to take care of the dog.
The Daily Progress recently obtained a report on what first brought Beebe to the attention of law enforcement: a late-night incident on Aug. 10. Albemarle animal control officer Justin Gibson asserts that he viewed security camera footage showing what happened that night around 11:48 p.m.
"Solomon Marshall Beebe cruelly and unnecessarily beat his dog, striking his dog no less than 7 times and carrying it off the ground by the neck while in the dog park area located at 2105 Bond Street," Gibson wrote.
"At the time of the incident, the dog did not appear to be attacking him and was on leash under his control," Gibson continued. "Immediately following the incident, the dog reacted to Solomon Beebe with clear signs of fear, taking a submissive and defensive posture as if expecting to be struck again."
Beebe would’ve been only a depth option at running back for the Hoos, but he was in line to be the Cavaliers’ starting kick returner had he not been suspended.
Last year while playing for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Beebe was one of the country’s top kick returners. His 26.1 yards per return in 2025 were the 13th most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
He accounted for 1,222 all-purpose yards (338 rushing, 284 receiving and 600 kick return) a season ago with the UAB Blazers while becoming the only player in the FBS last season to rush for six touchdowns and record 600 kick-return yards.
UVa opens its campaign on Saturday against North Carolina State University.
Without Beebe, UVa will use starter Jekail Middlebrook along with key reserves Xavier Brown, Noah Vaughn and Xay Davis at running back while Jacquon Gibson handles kickoff-return duties.
Daily Progress reporter Hawes Spencer contributed to this story.
