CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Virginia football is 8-1, off to its best start in 35 years, and it’s a resurgence that has been fueled by additions from the NCAA transfer portal.

From Chandler Morris, J’Mari Taylor and Cam Ross on offense to Mitchell Melton, Devin Neal and Ja’Son Prevard defensively, the offseason infusion of talent and experience has elevated UVA and has it in position for a run at its first ACC championship game.

But what about the players who left Charlottesville after last season? The portal is, always, a two-way path, and UVA saw four starters and three significant reserves depart the program to transfer elsewhere.

 

Anthony Colandrea, QB, UNLV

Colandrea started every game for the Cavaliers in 2024 until the finale against rival Virginia Tech, wowing fans with his moxie and fearless downfield flings. He also frustrated them with his turnovers.

Colandrea didn’t make the jump UVA coaches had hoped after his freshman season, and in early December, Colandrea decided to move on.

Out in Vegas, playing for Dan Mullen, the Florida native is flourishing. The Rebels are 6-2 and Colandrea has thrown for 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. Maybe most impressively, he’s only been picked off four times and is completing 69% percent of his passes.

Malachi Fields, WR, Notre Dame

Fields, a Charlottesville native, was the toughest defector for UVA fans to stomach. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is an NFL prospect who caught 129 passes for 1,849 yards 11 touchdowns in 36 games for the Cavaliers.

In the offseason, Fields opted to transfer to Notre Dame.

The Irish are 6-2, having won six straight after a rough start, and Fields is fourth on the team with 21 catches, third with 400 yards and second with three touchdowns.

Dating back to his UVA days, Fields has caught at least one pass in 35 straight games.

Blake Steen OL, Mississippi State

Steen started at right tackle for UVA in 2024, one of the program’s best development stories on the offensive line.

But after spring ball, Steen entered the portal. It didn’t take long, about a week, before he announced he’d be heading to Starkville.

Steen won the right guard job for the Bulldogs and started the opener. But he suffered a left arm/shoulder injury in that game and underwent season-ending surgery on Sept. 9.

Ty Furnish, OL, Georgia Southern

Furnish started at right guard for the Cavaliers after playing center and guard the season before. He transferred to Georgia Southern in the offseason where he’s a backup guard and plays on the field goal and PAT units.

JR Wilson, WR, Florida Atlantic

Wilson caught eight passes for 121 yards and a touchdown for Virginia in 2024 and capped the spring with a strong showing in the spring game.

But he entered the portal and ended up at Florida Atlantic, where – after making one catch in the first four games – he suffered an injury.

Michael Diatta, DT, Oklahoma State

As a backup defensive tackle heavily involved in the rotation last season for UVA, Diatta made 31 tackles and was in on one sack. He transferred to Oklahoma State where he has eight tackles in eight games and the Cowboys are just 1-8.

Ben Smiley III, DL, UConn

Smiley, a Norfolk native, spent six years at UVA, where he was limited by injuries and health issues. He played in 41 games recording 52 tackles and 3 ½ sacks as a Cavalier.

For the 6-3 Huskies, Smiley has registered 16 tackles while playing in seven games.