UVA offers Notre Dame’s top receiver, Georgia Tech DB

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s coaching staff has been proactive in an attempt to acquire new talent from the NCAA transfer portal, including Notre Dame’s leading pass receiver this past season.

Chris Tyree, a former 4-star from Thomas Dale High School (Richmond area) who was one of the top targets for the Fighting Irish this past season, visited UVA this past weekend. Tyree hauled in 26 passes for a team-leading 484 yards (18.6 yards per catch) this past season for Notre Dame. He had three TD catches, including a 70-yarder.

As soon as Tyree announced his decision to enter the portal, Virginia freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea answered the tweet with one of his own that read: “Let’s Do It 4,” referring to Tyree’s number last season at Notre Dame.

Tony Elliott’s staff has also extended offers to Georgia Tech defensive back Kenan Johnson and Harvard tight end Tyler Neville (grad transfer, one year of eligibility). Neville had indicated he will visit UVA.

Johnson is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound, redshirt junior from Minneola, Fla. He started nine games for the Yellow Jackets and played in 11 of 12, posting 29 tackles with one interception, three passes defended, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.

Neville played in all 10 games for Harvard, and had 24 receptions for 283 yards (11.8 average per catch), and four touchdowns. He is a 6-4, 235-pound tight end, originally from Williamsburg (Lafayette HS). He was first-team All-Ivy League in 2022.

Three other players from either the Ivy League or FCS football visited Virginia the weekend of the UVA-Virginia Tech game: Paul Lewis (Cornell), Kendren Smith (Penn) and Alex Oliver (VMI).

Lewis, a defensive back for the Big Red, posted 112 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, an interception for a TD, 19 passes defended, a sack, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

Oliver has plenty of experience, having played in 39 games for the Keydets. He has 200 tackles to his credit, including 5.5 tackles for loss, 33 passes defended and six career interceptions.

For the Quakers, Smith is a two-time, All-Ivy League cornerback with one year of eligibility remaining.