When I wrote my transfer portal to-do list, the ask for Virginia was pretty simple: use the final days of the window to plug the last holes in the roster in order to build on the success of the 2025 season. Add another receiver or two (in particular someone to play the slot), add to a secondary that had lost significant pieces, shore up the interior of the defensive line, and find a legitimate plan at center.
UVA closed the window by doing exactly that.
Before we get into names, the roster-building context matters. Tony Elliott said after the season that this high school class would be small, and that what UVA did in 2025 was already paying dividends for the 2027 class. That’s the long view: win now, then use that momentum to recruit better later.
This offseason kept the short-term trend rolling. UVA signed 15 high school recruits, ranking last in the ACC per both 247 sports and ON3. Meanwhile, the portal haul did the heavy lifting: 28 transfers, ranking 29th in the country per ON3’s adjusted portal ranking and 5th in the ACC behind Louisville, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and SMU.
So what did the closing kick look like?
Receiver
This was the loudest late-week focus, and it needed to be due to the number of snaps leaving from the 2025 roster. Virginia doubled down on this position adding a trio of receivers while also convincing Kameron Courtney to withdraw from the portal and return to UVA.
Late adds:
- Da’Shawn Martin: 6’2” / 170 (Kent State – 87)
- Jacquon Gibson: 5’11” / 185 (UMass – 87)
- Tyson Davis 5’10” / 175 (Central Michigan – 86)
Earlier add who still matters:
- Rico Flores Jr.: 6’1” / 195 (UCLA – 86)
And the quietly important win:
- Kameron Courtney pulled out of the portal
Three incoming receivers plus a returning piece changes the feel of the room. There are outside options. There’s a true slot profile. And there’s enough depth to withstand the inevitable injuries over the course of a long season.
Secondary
Virginia made a big push to solidify the secondary, bringing in a cornerback and two safeties. If one position group can change a defense quickly, it’s the back end. Two of them are two of the top transfers of the portal for UVA. Both Brandyn Hillman and Omillio Agard hail from the Big 10, from Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively. Virginia’s late additions here were the clearest sign that the staff wasn’t going to leave the roster half-finished.
The headliners were:
- S – Brandyn Hillman 6’1” / 190 (Michigan – 90)
- CB – Omillio Agard: 5’10.5 / 160 (Wisconsin – 88)
- S – Jalen McNair: 5’9” / 165 (Buffalo – 86)
And earlier additions that round out the room:
- CB – Jacobie Henderson: 6’0” / 183 (Rutgers – 88)
- S – Christian Ellis: 6’0” / 183 (Virginia Tech – 87)
- CB – Jaylen Jones: 6’2” / 185 (Georgia State – 87)
- CB – Justin Ross: 6’2” / 185 (Navy – 85)
Maybe not all of them start. That’s fine. Either way, depth becomes a real thing again, and there’s real competition for snaps instead of hoping a thin group holds up for 12 games.
Lines of Scrimmage
The theme of the 2025 season has been dominance in the trenches. This was the case for Virginia and fellow ACC member Miami who made it all the way to the CFP National Championship Game. After attacking the EDGE position at the beginning of the portal, UVA shifted their attention to the interior. Like I identified in my last article, there was space for another defensive tackle or two.
Defensive interior additions:
- Jonathan Allen: 6’3” / 230 (UAB – 86)
- Darrion Henry-Young 6’4” / 264 (Coastal Carolina – 85)
These are in addition to adding Zion Wilson earlier in the portal.
- Zion Wilson: 6’3” / 318 (East Carolina – 88)
On the offensive line, UVA had already made a splash by adding former 4-star USC tackle Alex Payne to compete. When looking at what should be one of Virginia’s strongest units for 2026 the big lingering question from my to-do list was center. Virginia filled this need by adding redshirt junior Ryan Brubaker from South Carolina.
- OT – Alex Payne: 6’5” / 265 (USC – 88)
- IOL – Ryan Brubaker: 6’6” / 304 (South Carolina – 86)
Even if the best five end up shifting around, bringing in someone who can handle the job provides a level of stability that should raise the floor on this group.
What it sets up for 2026
Overall 2026 Recruiting Grade: B+
This is a win-now roster. It’s another veteran group that brings depth to the rooms that were most vulnerable.
The longer-term question doesn’t go away, though. Portal-heavy builds can work, as evidenced by teams like Indiana, Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin, Texas Tech, and Virginia this past season.
However, you still need high school recruiting to rise if you want it to be sustainable, so UVA doesn’t end up in a situation like Florida State these past few years under Mike Norvell.
Elliott has been clear about what he expects: that short term success will help unlock the 2027 class. If that happens, the portal becomes supplemental to home grown talent, not the foundation.
Portal execution: A-
Virginia handled the final days the right way. The additions matched the needs. Receiver got both numbers and role fit. The secondary added proven snaps. The interior got deeper. Virginia added insurance at the center position. Given the size of the class, and where UVA finished in the ACC portal rankings, it’s hard to argue the staff didn’t maximize the window.
The only thing keeping it from being higher is the lack of flashy success seen by fellow ACC teams like Louisville and Virginia Tech.
High school recruiting/pipeline: C
Even with the “small class by design” explanation, last in the ACC in high school recruiting is still a problem. Winning can cover it up for a while. It doesn’t solve it forever
Put it together and B+ feels fair. UVA looks built to compete in the ACC again in 2026.
