This holiday season, Virginia football has much to be grateful for — namely, an incredibly fruitful transfer portal haul last offseason. Graduate stars like quarterback Chandler Morris, defensive end Mitchell Melton and running back J’Mari Taylor led the Cavaliers to finish atop the ACC regular season standings.
However, the biggest issue in building a veteran team through the portal is that while those players are long on talent, they are short on eligibility. Therefore, the Cavaliers are set to go fish in the portal pond again to replace outgoing stars. But who should they target? Three beat writers share their ideal portal catches below.
Xander Tilock, Sports Editor: Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings loves to run the ball, but never had an elite back until Taylor. Virginia must now find one to replace him — so cast your eyes on junior running back Wayne Knight of James Madison. The First Team All-Sun Belt selection tallied 1,642 total yards and 10 total touchdowns as the centerpiece of the Dukes’ offense. Knight and Taylor are both shorter, stronger and more versatile than the average collegiate back, and Knight would be a perfect fit in this offense.
Moving over to the tight end position, Tulsa junior Brody Foley would give the offense a newfound playmaker at a position that has long been lacking a true receiving threat. Virginia’s starting tight end, graduate Sage Ennis, has 258 career receiving yards across five seasons. Foley recorded 528 this year in his first season as a full-time offensive starter after transferring from Indiana. Ennis was an elite blocker, but adding a tight end who can truly attack an opposing defense vertically would open this offense to more creativity and consistency. As a bonus, Foley is also a high-quality blocker and has years of experience playing special teams.
However, it is worth noting that both aforementioned targets will likely be courted by dozens of other Power Four schools. Should the Cavaliers want a more realistic target, a high-quality option exists just an hour away in Richmond — senior defensive end Camden Byrd. He recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks, mauling competition with an intriguing blend of power and speed. It is difficult to project how he would adjust from FCS football to the ACC, but why not take a swing at an in-state talent for a much better price than out-of-state options?
Ryan Weiner, Senior Associate: Virginia’s rare defensive deficiency has been its secondary. Add in the departure of a few graduate starters and junior cornerback Ja’Son Prevard, and the Cavaliers have a conundrum. Look no further than junior cornerback Ashton Stamps from LSU to save the day. Stamps played well for the Tigers for two years before being redshirted, causing him to lose faith in the program. It is clear Stamps would benefit from a step down in pace from LSU, but he could be a day one high-impact starter if he came to Charlottesville.
On offense, all three of Virginia’s leading receivers are likely out of eligibility. Thus, reinforcements are required. A realistic replacement like junior Jayce Freeman of Stony Brook would be an excellent fit. Freeman is a near-perfect replacement for senior Jahmal Edrine, being just one inch taller and four pounds heavier. Freeman is a physical threat who has led the Seawolves in receiving in consecutive years. The Maryland-born product is practically begging for a step up in competition, which the Cavaliers would provide.
Lastly, the quarterback position has to be addressed. Sophomore Daniel Kaelin did not impress in his appearances this season, therefore it may be wise to find a portal addition to compete with him. Staying in state, Old Dominion sophomore Colton Joseph makes perfect sense. Joseph was a dual-threat monster, rushing for over 1,000 yards while throwing for 21 touchdowns. He has some interception problems, but the upside is too good to overlook. There’s a reason he led the Monarchs to a 10-3 record. Joseph is legit and should be in line for the starting job next season.
Ben McNiff, Senior Writer: Virginia’s offensive line is set to look entirely different in 2026, with essentially all key contributors’ eligibility expiring. Elliott has proven he can attract big-time talent on the line, so junior Connecticut tackle Ben Murawski should be at the top of his list this window. The soon-to-be former Husky has experience at both tackle and guard, and is among the best run blockers in the country. At 6-foot-7, 335 pounds Murawski is a monster, one of the best players in the portal and a must-add for Virginia.
Jumping over the other side of the trenches, sophomore Ball State defensive tackle Darin Conley flies under the radar but could make an immediate impact. Formerly a linebacker, the 6-foot-3, 284-pound Conley showcased his versatility by lining up all over the front seven in defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles’ scheme. In just two seasons, he’s become one of the best pass-rushing tackles in the Mid-American Athletic Conference. He also has become one of the leaders for that locker room, an Elliott essential.
The tight end position has been an everpresent question during Elliott’s tenure here. The answer may be found down south, in the form of redshirt freshman Florida tight end Amir Jackson. Standing nearly 6-foot-5 and having quite the impressive high school basketball career, Jackson would bring unprecedented athleticism for Elliott and Kitchings to play with. Virginia would need to compete with top-flight SEC programs like Georgia and Alabama for his services, so he is more of a reach than Murawski or Conley. The former four star prospect has three years of eligibility left.
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