UVA DB Hayes enters transfer portal

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Yo, Josh, we hardly knew you.

Josh Hayes, a defensive back who transferred to Virginia from North Dakota State during the offseason, has entered the transfer portal again, leaving the Cavalier secondary one player shy for the second half of the season.

Bronco Mendenhall confirmed the move during Monday’s press conference but declined to give details, noting that Hayes’ decision “is personal and private.” Hayes has entered the portal as a grad student.

Hayes missed the start of the season due to an injury he suffered late in August training camp, but did appear in the last three games. He played in 52 games at North Dakota State during the Bisons’ three-year reign of FCS national championships between 2017-19.

“I just really always want every player that comes to our program to have a magical experience and to be completely fulfilled, and that’s what they want, especially when you consider graduate transfers, and usually the first thing I say to them is you have to get this right, and we have to get this right,” Mendenhall said.

“Most of the time at UVA it has been, and then for various reasons, sometimes it’s not ideal for one side or the other. I love Josh, he’s an amazing young person and we’ll see where that goes for his future. I really hope it’s exactly as he wants it to be.”