Two more Cavaliers enter the transfer portal

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Two more Virginia football players entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, adding up to 15 Cavaliers leaving the program.

Ben Smiley III, a defensive end, played in 40 games over six seasons for UVA, starting 12 times and posting 50 tackles over that span, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Coach Tony Elliott continued to talk about expectations he had for Smiley, but the big breakthrough expected never evolved. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Ethan Davies was a wide receiver and punt returner for the Cavaliers and played in 23 games, starting twice over the past three campaigns at wideout. He hauled in just one pass reception in 2024, a 65-yard TD at Clemson. He also posted 16 punt returns last season and averaged 6.1 yards per return.

The two join 13 other Cavaliers who entered the portal on Monday, most notably quarterback Anthony Colandrea, UVA’s starter this past season.

A total of eight players of the 15 who have entered the portal appeared on Virginia’s two-deep depth chart at season’s end, including offensive linemen Ty Furnish, Ugonna Nnanna and Charlie Patterson, defensive linemen Michael Diatta and Bryce Carter, along with wide receiver JR Wilson.