Once again, the Virginia Cavaliers hit the transfer portal to supplement the defensive back group, adding quality pieces to go alongside the impactful experience already on the roster.
Ethan Minter and Donavan Platt are both back and as fixtures in the backend, while the trio of Big Ten Transfers in Omillio Agard, Jacobie Henderson, and Brandyn Hillman are all likely to be big contributors as well.
In terms of how this group looks come that first drive against NC State, there is a bit of uncertainty, but in a good way. The group is filled with guys who can play multiple positions throughout the secondary. Donavan Platt played mostly at corner a year ago, but saw time in the spring at SPUR and has been continually praised for his versatility. Corey Costner, now a sophomore after making a handful of clutch plays last year and another candidate at SPUR. He’s been dealing with an injury, but from what Elliott has said, should be back quickly.
As I mentioned, where everyone lines up is something to watch in that first game; who all is out there seems pretty set after listening to Elliott and coordinator John Rudzinski’s discuss the guys in this group. Here’s how I think they’ll ultimately start.
Starters
SS: Ethan Minter
FS: Brandyn Hillman (Michigan)
CB: Omillio Agard (Wisconsin)
CB: Jacobie Henderson (Rutgers)
SPUR: Donavan Platt
Minter continues to step up at the safety spot, now in his third season after moving to the position as a freshman. Elliott has raved about his leadership and competitiveness throughout, so I don’t see anyone jumping him. You might as well have written Hillman in as a starter in sharpie the moment he signed; he’s an All-ACC caliber guy that hasn’t gotten the attention he probably should have across the league. The collective speed and strength of Agard, Henderson, and Platt rounds out a solid unit.
Key Backups
Safeties
Corey Costner
Christian Ellis (Virginia Tech)
Jaylen Jones (Georgia State)
Jalen McNair (Buffalo)
Ja’Maric Morris (returns after missing ‘25 due to injury)
Corners
Jam Jackson (returns after missing ‘25 due to injury)
Justin Ross (Navy)
I’m leaving this list a little long because of the versatility of a handful of these guys. As mentioned above, Costner could be a regular at SPUR, but could also play some safety if the plan is to keep Platt there long term. Christian Ellis flashed at safety the game before he entered the portal a year ago for the Hokies against NC State; he broke up three passes, including one to ice that game.
Ja’Maric Morris is back after a knee injury kept him out all last season after transferring in as another cornerback option. Coach Elliott mentioned him as a potential contributor at SPUR at 6-foot-3, 219 pounds. Jam Jackson is back after missing all of last season as well. He started every game in ‘24, making 58 tackles and breaking up six passes. Jones, McNair, and Ross all bring a year or more of meaningful playing time from their previous stops.
Confidence Rating: 8/10
There’s a lot to like about how the coaching staff revamped this secondary after losing so many big contributors from a season ago. There’s speed and physicality across the board. Hillman is an easy plug-and-play guy at safety after the graduation of Devin Neal that’s able to do a little bit of everything. Henderson and Agard both have P-4 experience in the Big Ten and the overall depth of this group is filled with a bunch of guys with season’s worth of college football experience under their belts, not to mention Minter and Platt both back setting the tone as seasoned leaders.
We’ll see if this year’s secondary proves to be better than last, but I do expect it to at least be much better to start the year thanks to most of this transfer class getting to UVA in January, as opposed to last year with the spring portal window where UVA brought in most of their rotational DB guys after spring ball had already wrapped up. You can’t overlook how huge that added few months of time together is.
