Virginia’s starting LT Taylor enters transfer portal; Walker also leaving, Butler staying

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia’s offensive line took another blow on Friday when one of its top players, starting left tackle Logan Taylor, entered the transfer portal.

Taylor is the third UVA offensive lineman to enter the portal this month, including starting left guard John Paul Flores and backup right guard Zach Teter. In addition, Virginia’s offensive line coach for the past seven years, Garett Tujague, resigned earlier in the week to accept a similar position at NC State. Tujague was also the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Taylor, who came to Episcopal High School in Alexandria from Nova Scotia, was considered a top-10 prospect in the state by 247Sports. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle, started all 10 games for the Cavaliers this past season and was one of 14 true freshmen to see playing time in 2021.

Preceding Taylor in the portal this week was veteran reserve running back Ronnie Walker Jr., who saw little action this season after suffering an injury in the spring. He transferred to Virginia from Indiana.

Meanwhile, defensive end Kam Butler, a grad student transfer from Miami (Ohio) to Virginia before the 2022 season, announced that he will return to the Cavaliers’ program.

While normally, Butler would have exhausted his eligibility, he is taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted exclusively to UVA players due to an NCAA ruling because of the shooting tragedy that claimed the lives of three of Butler’s teammates.

Virginia canceled its last two games of the season due to the slayings and the NCAA granted any Cavalier players in their final year of eligibility an additional year.

Butler, who was a three-time, All-Mid-American Conference honoree (first-team in 2021), started all 10 of Virginia’s games in 2022 and posted 29 tackles. 4.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 3 QB hurries.