By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia will host a number of transfer portal players on Wednesday and has offered the top FCS defensive player in the portal. Meanwhile the Cavaliers are celebrating return of two current players. Tonight’s updated story (as of 10 p.m.) will identify who’s staying, who’s visiting, along with other news related to UVA football.

The Cavaliers have offered Mercer pass rusher Andrew Zock, the highest-graded FCS defensive player in the portal. Zock was the winner of the prestigious Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS for 2025. He had 11.5 sacks this past season. Zock has visited Tulsa and also plans to visit UVA, Colorado and T

Linebacker Maddox Marcellus, who stepped into injured Kam Robinson’s role in the latter part of Virginia’s schedule, and key wide receiver Jahmal Edrine both announced they are returning. Marcellus withdrew his name from the portal and will return to UVA for the 2026 season. Edrine never entered the portal, but said he plans to return to the Cavaliers.

Marcellus (6-foot-2, 228 pounds) posted 49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2.5 TFL and an interception this past season and is a key player considering that the Cavaliers lose linebacker James Jackson, whose eligibility has expired.

Also, Edrine, a 6-3, 221-pound receiver, was one of the most reliable receivers in UVA’s offense this past season. The former Purdue wide out hauled in 46 passes for 564 yards (12.3 average) and a touchdown.

Visiting Today

• Set to visit UVA on Thursday is UAB running back and return specialist Solomon Beebe, who rushed for 6 TDs this past season in addition to catching 31 passes. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
• Scheduled visit on Friday from Kent State defensive end Jamond Mathis, who had six QB sacks this past season. He also has a visit scheduled at Memphis.
• Antonio Tripp Jr., is a 6-3, 300-pound offensive lineman from Florida International and a former high school 4-star in 2023 out of IMG Academy. He signed with Miami out of high school and then transferred to FIU, where he started all 12 games this past season. He has also visited Kansas State.
• Ezekiel Larry is a 6-2, 240-pound edge rusher who was a third-team All-American out of Yale, where he was the highest-graded edge in the Ivy League this past season. Larry owns a PFF career pass rush grade of 90. During his career with the Bulldogs, he had 16.5 sacks. This past season he posted 10.5 sacks, 48 tackles, 6 QB hits and forced two fumbles. He has an 80-inch wing span.
• Two players from UMass visited in recent days, linebacker Rashad Henry and edge Marques White.
• A new addition, UAB wide receiver Iverson Hooks is visiting UVA today and Thursday. He was a second-team All-Conference receiver who had 1,038 all-purpose yards and 7 touchdowns in 2025.

Lagway Update & More

• Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway, who started for the Gators this past season, visited UVA on Monday and Tuesday, then headed to Baylor for a visit. Lagway came to Charlottesville after visiting Florida State over the weekend. However, the Seminoles then turned around and added Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels on Monday night. Lagway has a connection to Baylor, where his father was a running back in the 1990s.
• Virginia’s Mitchell Melton has accepted an invitation to play in the Hula Bowl all-star game.
• Former UVA defensive lineman Hunter Osborne, who entered the portal, has signed with Arkansas.
• Former UVA and UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea has signed with Nebraska.
• Current Virginia corner Emmanuel Karnley announced he has entered the portal.