Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x

It's never been more difficult to keep track of all the roster changes taking place on a given college football team. With the transfer portal and immediate eligibility as well as lingering confusion from COVID-19-era bonus eligibility, it's almost impossible to keep up all of the personnel turnover.

But we're going to give it our best shot.

Below you will find our Virginia Football Roster Changes HQ, a complete position-by-position breakdown of all the players UVA football is expecting to return, lose, or add to its roster for the 2025 season.

A couple of notes before we begin:

  • Not every player from the 2024 roster will be listed here; we're limiting ourselves to the players who had a notable role on last year's team.
  • We're only working with the information that has been made public, so these roster changes aren't 100% official and won't be until Virginia releases its roster for the 2025 season.
  • This is not a depth chart. We'll do an updated projected depth chart later on before the Cavaliers return to the field for spring practice.

This page will be updated as we obtain further information about roster changes. This article was last updated on January 14th at 5pm ET.

Offense

Quarterback
Exhausted eligibility: Tony Muskett
Entered transfer portal: Anthony Colandrea

Expected to return: Gavin Frakes, Grady Brosterhous
Transfer additions: Chandler Morris (North Texas), Daniel Kaelin (Nebraska)

Wide Receiver
Exhausted eligibility: Chris Tyree
Entered transfer portal: Malachi Fields, JR Wilson, Jaden Gibson, Titus Ivy, Ethan Davies, KJ Bratton

Expected to return: Trell Harris, Kameron Courtney, Andre Greene Jr., Suderian Harrison, Eli Wood, TyLyric Coleman
Transfer additions: Jahmal Edrine (Purdue), Cam Ross (JMU)

Running Back
Exhausted eligibility: Kobe Pace

Expected to return: Xavier Brown, Noah Vaughn, Donte Hawthorne, Jack Griese
Transfer additions: J'Mari Taylor (NC Central)

Tight End
Exhausted eligibility: Tyler Neville, Sackett Wood Jr.

Expected to return: Sage Ennis, Dakota Twitty, John Rogers

Offensive Line
Exhausted eligibility: Brian Stevens, Jimmy Christ
Entered transfer portal: Ty Furnish, Charlie Patterson, Ugonna Nnanna

Expected to return: Noah Josey, McKale Boley, Blake Steen, Jack Witmer, Ethan Sipe, Grant Ellinger, Ben York, Cole Surber, Dane Wleklinski, Drake Metcalf
Transfer additions: Brady Wilson (UAB), Tyshawn Wyatt (JMU), Kevin Wigenton II (Illinois), Monroe Mills (Louisville)

Defense

Linebackers
Exhausted eligibility: Dorian Jones

Expected to return: James Jackson, Kam Robinson, Trey McDonald, Stevie Bracey, Landon Danley
Transfer additions: Maddox Marcellus (Eastern Kentucky)

Defensive Backs
Exhausted eligibility: Jonas Sanker, Kempton Shine, Kendren Smith, Corey Thomas Jr., Elijah Gaines
Entered transfer portal: Malcolm Greene, Trent Baker-Booker, Aidan Ryan

Expected to return: Antonio Clary, Dre Walker, Jam Jackson, Caleb Hardy, Ethan Minter, Micah Gaffney
Transfer Additions: Devin Neal (Louisville), Ja'son Prevard (Morgan State)

Defensive Line
Exhausted eligibility: Kam Butler, Chico Bennett Jr.
Entered transfer portal: Ben Smiley III, Michael Diatta, DJ Jones, Bryce Carter

Expected to return: Jahmeer Carter, Terrell Jones, Jason Hammond, Anthony Britton, Billy Koudelka, Mekhi Buchanan, Jewett Hayes, Miles Greene
Transfer additions: Jacob Holmes (Fresno State), Cazeem Moore (Elon), Hunter Osborne (Alabama), Fisher Camac (UNLV)

Special Teams

Exhausted eligibility: Chris Tyree
Entered transfer portal: Ethan Davies

Expected to return: P/K Daniel Sparks, K Will Bettridge, LS Payton Bunch, KR Kam Courtney, PR Suderian Harrison
Transfer additions: LS Bryce Robinson (Kennesaw State)

Virginia has landed 17 transfer commitments from the portal this offseason:

Keep track of all of UVA's transfer portal activity, including outgoing and incoming transfers, here: Virginia Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Stay up to date on all of the transfers who have received offers from Virginia or who have scheduled visits to UVA here: Tracking UVA Football's Offers and Visits in the Transfer Portal


This article first appeared on Virginia Cavaliers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

NFL legend Tom Brady unleashes on current climate in college sports
College Football

NFL legend Tom Brady unleashes on current climate in college sports

NFL legend Tom Brady isn't happy with the current climate in college sports. Fueled by money — specifically, revenue-sharing and name, image and likeness deals — along with the transfer portal's explosion and ongoing conference realignment, Brady says a reality check is needed in collegiate athletics. "But because we’re just talking about money, money, money, money … that’s the only value in college? Is that what we’re saying? To me, the priorities are a bit messed up," Brady said in a conversation with Fox Sports' Joel Klatt on the "Big Noon Conversations" podcast. College sports, in particular football and basketball, are a big business, and Brady recognizes that. At the same time, given NIL and other factors, there isn't a ton of loyalty in the college game, as players switch schools all the time. Plus, as Brady notes, these players are missing out on the college experience that he had while playing quarterback for Big Ten Conference powerhouse Michigan from 1995-1999, because they're competing for two or three schools. "I didn’t go to three different colleges," Brady, who won seven Super Bowls in the NFL, continued. "I didn’t leave college when it seemed like I wasn’t gonna play. I wasn’t at college to do anything other than have a great college experience, to go to school, to have camaraderie with my teammates and to compete at a high level. That’s really where the focus was. And at a young age, that’s where I think the focus needs to be." Brady doesn't blame the players. They're teenagers or in their early 20s when suiting up for college teams. He says that players' parents have to protect them. It's even more complicated these days (and tempting) because of the money being offered to top-ranked prospects, and some of these young men also have agents now. "It’s very intriguing to get that quick dollar," Brady said. "Look, we had a $400 scholarship check, and it seemed like I was rich. It really did. I’m sure most kids felt like that. We got pizza cards to go to dinner, and we had a training table, and it was an amazing experience. We didn’t think about the money." Brady says his time at Michigan prepared him for the pro ranks. He was in college for four years but didn't become the Wolverines' starter until his junior season. While Brady was a good college quarterback, he wasn't elite. He was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft and used that as motivation to prove that he belonged in the pros. What then transpired was Brady evolving into the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. He says young players today are too quick to move to a different school if they're not getting enough playing time. "The lessons I learned in college — and certainly about competition — those traits transformed my life as a professional. I was ready to compete against anybody, because the competition in college toughened me up so much that I had a self-belief and self-confidence that whatever I was faced with, I could overcome that," Brady said. Brady isn't saying that money isn't important. But he is saying what many others are thinking. The emphasis on money in college sports is concerning and problematic. "We’re valuing the wrong things," said Brady.

Steelers Insider Reveals Timeline for WR Move
NFL

Steelers Insider Reveals Timeline for WR Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a wide receiver move on the horizon. On the latest episode of the "Kaboly + Mack" podcast, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly stated that he wouldn't be surprised if the team were to add a receiver to their roster in the near future. "I don't think any time within the next week, but something might be coming down the pike here," Kaboly said. "I'll put it this way: I would not be shocked within the next 10 to 12 days that they add a receiver. I was under the impression that they're just gonna play it out like they are right now. 'We have [Roman] Wilson, [Calvin] Austin, we're going with that'. I was pretty much sure of that. I don't know if I'm as sure of that anymore." Adding depth at receiver has remained a focus for Pittsburgh throughout the entire offseason. It landed its new No. 1 option in DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks just ahead of free agency and later traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, but the organization has done little outside of that to address the position. While signing Robert Woods to a one-year deal brings a veteran presence to the room, he's also 33-years-old and recorded just 203 yards over 15 games with the Houston Texans last season. The Steelers are hoping for a bounce-back sophomore campaign from Wilson after playing just five snaps during his rookie season, and while he performed well in the team's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend, he still has more to prove moving forward. Austin was a key piece of Pittsburgh's offense last year and is slated to remain the team's primary slot receiver, but he's also currently dealing with a minor abdominal muscle injury and missed significant time towards the end of training camp. Tight end Jonnu Smith could essentially operate as a receiver for the Steelers due to his versatility and receiving prowess, but they could certainly use depth beyond him. With the deadline for final rosters cut set for 4 p.m. EST on August 26, Pittsburgh should have some enticing receiver options come available over the next two weeks or so alongside the veterans already residing on the free agent market.

Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season
NFL

Vikings WR gets brutal injury news for second straight season

A Minnesota Vikings wide receiver's season is already over. The Minnesota Vikings announced on Tuesday that wide receiver Rondale Moore is being placed on season-ending injured reserve due to a leg injury that he suffered in the team's first preseason game against the Houston Texans this past weekend. It is a devastating blow for Moore, who is now being sidelined for an entire season, before it even begins, for the second year in a row. Moore signed a one-year, $2 million contract in free agency with the Vikings this offseason in the hopes he could return from a different injury that cost him the entirety of the 2024 season. Moore was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after being acquired in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals for backup quarterback Desmond Ridder. This is now two different teams that Moore has been a part of, but will never play a game for them due to injuries. Moore was injured while returning a punt. He began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, catching 135 passes for 1,201 yards over three seasons before being traded. He was never going to be counted on to be a key contributor for the Vikings offense this season, especially given the superstars they already have at wide receiver in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but he still had a chance to be an interesting depth player. Now it is fair to wonder what the rest of his career might even look like. Missing two full seasons due to two different leg injuries is going to be a brutal thing to try to come back from. Missing two seasons for any reason is difficult, but when you add the leg injuries to the equation, it makes the obstacle even steeper.

Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
NFL

Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season

Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.