Virginia football’s transfer portal class has already done meaningful work, filling in the gaps left by the portal and players leaving for the NFL draft and graduating.
With the window nearing its close, the approach shifts from volume to precision. One or two more targeted additions could solidify the roster heading into spring and stabilize key spots if injuries hit.
Here’s where the roster still looks thinnest, plus a look at notable remaining names currently listed on On3’s “best available” Transfer Portal board.
Where the roster stands right now
Quarterback is stocked. Virginia added Beau Pribula (Missouri) and Eli Holstein (Pitt), two solid veterans to replace Chandler Morris, whose eligibility expired, and Daniel Kaelin, who transferred back to Nebraska.
Running back has also been replenished. Peyton Lewis (Tennessee), Jekail Middlebrook (Middle Tennessee), and Solomon Beebe (UAB) arrive after J’Mari Taylor declared for the NFL Draft and Harrison Waylee’s eligibility expired.
Tight end is also a great example of Virginia replenishing lost depth. After losing Sage Ennis to the NFL draft, Virginia will return both Dakota Twitty and John Rogers. They have solidified the TE room by bringing in Connor Cox (North Carolina).
However, looking over the rest of the roster has revealed a few areas where new additions could still provide value.
The biggest remaining needs (ranked)
1. Wide receiver
Wide receiver is the simplest case. Virginia landed Rico Flores Jr. (UCLA), and Jahmal Edrine is back. But the departures are substantial: Trell Harris (Oklahoma), Cam Ross, Eli Wood, Kameron Courtney, Andre Greene Jr., Suderian Harrison, and others are no longer in the room.
That’s a lot of snaps and targets to replace. Even with a strong addition already in place, this is still the position most likely to benefit from one or two more portal additions.
What Virginia should be looking for is:
• An outside target to complement Edrine who can win on third down and in the red zone.
• A space player (slot) who creates separation and provides YAC potential.
On3’s best-available wide receiver list currently includes names such as Darrell Gill, Johntay Cook II, Nico Brown, Na’eem Gladding, Kamryn Perry, and Antavious Richardson.
2. Defensive Tackle
None of these names should be treated as Virginia targets by default. They’re simply examples of the kind of player still available late in the cycle.
Virginia has already invested significant resources into replenishing the production from Mitchell Melton and Daniel Rickert off the EDGE, bringing in four total players.
That helps, but the interior still looks like the spot where one more addition would have the biggest ripple effect.
Jahmeer Carter is headed to the NFL Draft. Terrell Jones transferred to USF. Hunter Osborne transferred to Arkansas. Losing proven bodies in the middle makes it harder to play consistent run defense and forces edge players and linebackers to compensate.
So far, Virginia has added Zion Wilson (East Carolina), but one more would likely fill a need. In particular, because of Virginia’s trench identity in the 2025 season and the postseason success seen with teams like Miami in the CFP.
What Virginia should be looking for is:
• A true interior anchor who can hold up against double teams and keep linebackers clean.
• A rotation-friendly player who can play enough snaps to keep the group fresh late in games.
On3’s best-available defensive line list currently includes Mandrell Desir, Kevin Wynn, and D’antre Robinson near the top.
3. Defensive back (safety + corner)
Virginia has already taken meaningful swings here: Christian Ellis (Virginia Tech) at safety, plus corner additions Jacobie Henderson (Rutgers), Jaylen Jones (Georgia State), and Justin Ross (Navy).
Even so, the secondary still looks like it could use at least one more dependable piece. Two safeties, Devin Neal and Antonio Clary, are out of eligibility. In particular, Clary was a staple of UVA’s secondaries during the Tony Elliot era and that leadership will need to be compensated for. At corner, Emmanuel Karnley transferred to Washington, Ja’son Prevard (the CB that had the game sealing interception versus No. 8 FSU) transferred to Kansas State, and Dre Walker transferred to Appalachian State.
What Virginia should be looking for is:
• At safety: range plus communication, someone who can reduce explosives and align the group.
• At corner: a boundary defender who can hold up when offenses test the edges.
On3’s best-available safety list currently includes Brandyn Hillman, Ashlynd Barker, and Faheem Delane near the top. On3’s best-available corner list currently includes Daniel Harris, Aaron Scott Jr., and Donovan McIntosh near the top.
4. Interior offensive line
Virginia is returning three key starters in McKale Boley (LT), Noah Josey (LG), and Drake Metcalf (RG) along with Louisville transfer Monroe Mills (RT) who re-signed with Virginia after missing the 2025 season due to injury. However, with the departures of Brady Wilson, and Jack Witmer, who both exhausted their eligibility, there are still holes on the offensive line.
So far, Virginia added tackle Alex Payne (USC) as depth on the outside. That still leaves center and, with the injuries to the offensive line in 2025, it can never hurt to get more bodies at these positions.
Virginia is likely targeting one center-capable addition, even if it’s just a player to legitimately compete there and raise the weekly baseline.
What Virginia should be hunting
• A center-capable IOL who can handle calls and keep protections clean.
• Ideally, a position-flexible offensive linemen who can fill in at multiple spots if needed.
On3’s best-available interior offensive line list currently includes Joe Brunner, Devin Harper, and Kristian Phillips near the top.
5. Linebacker
Linebacker doesn’t appear as urgent as the positions above, but there’s a case for one more addition for depth, special teams, and insurance. There hasn’t been official news on Kam Robinson, UVA’s all-ACC linebacker. Nothing has indicated that he’s leaving the program. But, whether he returns to Charlottesville or not, he still has to recover from a torn ACL suffered in the regular season game versus Duke. Maddox Marcellus emerged as a key piece down the stretch, but depth gets tested quickly over a full season. Virginia has already added Nnanna Anyanwu from UTSA. Another player would be helpful, either as a stopgap for Robinson, or as another meaningful contributor.
On3’s best-available linebacker list currently includes Trey Lathan, Omar Graham Jr., and Aaron Alexander near the top.
What a strong finish looks like
Virginia has done a good job replenishing the roster. However, if it hopes to repeat the success of 2025 that included an 11-win season and an ACC championship game berth, it likely needs to sure up some of these holes before the end of the portal window.
To recap, UVA could probably do to add:
• At least one wide receiver, likely a slot option that can replace the lost production.
• One to two more defensive backs who can be trusted in meaningful snaps.
• Another interior defensive lineman to complete the front rebuild.
• A center-capable interior lineman and another depth linemen to ensure the offensive line remains a strength in 2026.
