By Jerry Ratcliffe
While four more Cavaliers entered the transfer portal when it officially opened on Friday, Virginia also got some good news from veteran starting offensive tackle McKale Boley.
UVA also has six players that have declared for the NFL Draft and have scheduled at least three visits of players from other schools who are in the portal and interested in Virginia (more on that below).
Boley’s decision to return for another season is huge for the Cavaliers. The 6-foot-5, 316-pound left offensive tackle has 40 games and 36 starts under his belt. With Boley’s return, that means most of a quality UVA offensive line will be back for the 2026 season, including starting left guard Noah Josey, starting right guard Drake Metcalf and Monroe Mills, who was a projected starter last season but suffered a season-ending injury in the offseason after transferring to Virginia from Louisville.
Also, Makilan Thomas, a reserve offensive lineman, plans to return along with cornerback Ja’Maric Morris, a transfer from Georgia State.
Meanwhile, three players are expected to visit UVA: Wyoming wide receiver Chris Durr; Central Michigan defensive back Kalen Carroll and New Mexico State defensive lineman Ezra Christensen.
Christensen, a 6-2, 280-pound senior, will visit UVA on Jan. 4-5 and Colorado on Jan. 6-7. He also holds offers from Washington, Kentucky, Duke, JMU, Minnesota and UCF. He scored the third-highest PFF grade among all defensive tackles in the nation.
Christensen was a first-team All-American by the Pro Football and Sports Network. He had 6 sacks, 11 TFL, 10 QB hurries and 42 tackles this past season. He played in 2023 and 2024 at Fresno State.
Carroll is a 6-1, 185-pound corner who played last season for Central Michigan after spending his first three years at Cincinnati. In 2024 and 2023, he played in 18 games and started 13 at corner for the Bearcats and made 31 tackles. This past season at Central Michigan, Carroll appeared in 13 games and posted 45 tackles (27 solo), had 2 interceptions, 2 PBU, 1 TFL and a forced fumble.
Durr has been an outstanding receiver for Wyoming the past two seasons.
As a true freshman in 2024, the 5-10, 173-pound wideout hauled in a team-high 31 receptions for 348 yards (11.2 ypc) and a touchdown. This past season, Durr was even better with 45 catches for 469 yards (10.4 ypc) and 4 TDs. In the season-opening win over Akron, he made 8 catches for 190 yards and a score.
A total of 14 UVA players have announced they will enter the portal: Hunter Osborne (defensive line); Trell Harris (wide receiver), Kam Courtney (wide receiver), Maddox Marcellus (linebacker); Stevie Bracey (linebacker); Andre Greene (wide receiver); Trey McDonald (linebacker); Suderian Harrison (wide receiver); Terrell Jones (defensive lineman); Grady Brosterhous (QB); Dre Walker (cornerback); Mekhi Buchanan (defensive end); Ja’Son Prevard (cornerback); Tyshawn Wyatt (offensive line).
Six players said they will enter the NFL Draft: Jacob Holmes (defensive lineman); Antonio Clary (safety); Jahmeer Carter (defensive lineman); Sage Ennis (tight end); J’Mari Taylor (running back); Cazeem Moore (defensive end).
MORE UVA FOOTBALL NEWS: Former Virginia All-American Anthony Poindexter, who had been on James Franklin’s Penn State staff for years, has been hired as co-defensive coordinator at Tennessee. Dex was co-defensive coordinator with Tennessee DC Jim Knowles at Penn State. Also, former UVA star Marques Hagans, who was also on Penn State’s staff, has been hired as Michigan’s new receivers coach. Hagans will be reunited with former Bronco Mendenhall quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, who is now the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator for new Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham. Beck worked last season for Whittingham at Utah.
