Editor’s note: This article was first published Dec. 12 and will be updated throughout the football offseason.
Virginia football has gone from mediocrity to the ACC’s highest echelon. After tallying just 11 wins from 2022 to 2024, the Cavaliers recorded 10 this regular season en route to becoming the ACC regular season champions. Coach Tony Elliott led Virginia to a bowl game — and ACC Championship game appearance — for the first time since 2019.
Meanwhile, the ever-chaotic transfer portal is already up and running, with players all around the country declaring that they will enter the transfer portal. The portal officially opens Jan. 2 and will close Jan. 16. It is expected that Elliott and company will be busy, as the 2025 roster featured several players in their final year of eligibility.
This tracker will follow Virginia’s arrivals and departures.
Dec. 11: Dre Walker
Another defender is entering the transfer portal. Walker, a junior cornerback, was an impact player for Virginia back in 2023 but has battled injuries throughout his Cavalier career. After playing in nine games in his freshman campaign, he only suited up for four in 2024 and did not appear in the regular season in 2025.
Virginia added several defensive backs in the transfer portal last year — some of which are still with the program — and will likely add more this offseason, affecting Walker’s playing time. He is the second Cavalier defensive back to enter the portal this year. — Xander Tilock, Sports Editor
Dec. 11: Mekhi Buchanan
This Thursday brought another loss on defense for the Cavaliers, as Buchanan entered the portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
The junior defensive end has struggled with injuries over his three seasons with the Cavaliers, missing the entirety of 2024 with a hip injury. A former three-star recruit, Buchanan never started a game for Virginia, but contributed 20 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss in 2023 and a pass breakup this season in a rotational role. — Ben McNiff, Senior Writer
Dec. 9: Ja’Son Prevard
One of Virginia’s starting defensive backs has entered the transfer portal, according to On3. A junior transfer from Morgan State, Prevard led the team with three interceptions — including two against then-No. 8 Florida State. In his lone season with the Cavaliers, Prevard was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention.
Also of note, Prevard was benched for the first quarter against Virginia Tech Nov. 29. Elliott did not comment on the situation. In place of Prevard, freshman defensive back Corey Costner earned snaps and secured an interception in the first quarter of the ACC Championship game. — Xander Tilock, Sports Editor
Dec. 8: Tyshawn Wyatt
Virginia football loses its first player this transfer window in Wyatt, who entered the portal Monday.
The graduate tackle did not see significant action for the Cavaliers this season due to injury, which continues a trend from his James Madison days. Wyatt was a stalwart at the left end of the line for the Dukes for three years before missing all of 2024 with injury. — Ben McNiff, Senior Writer
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