Virginia football added another three players in the portal the past week, bringing its running total to 15. The latest bunch of additions is a trio of veterans to help dominate the line of scrimmage. The Cavaliers signed two offensive linemen — graduate Tyshawn Wyatt from James Madison University and graduate Kevin Wigenton II from Illinois — as well as a senior defensive end, Fisher Camac from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
One common trait that stands out with this most recent batch of transfers is size — and there is quite a lot of it. Wyatt stands at 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, Wigenton at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds and Camac at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds.
The addition of Wyatt and Wigenton signals a newfound emphasis on the offensive line — music to the ears of Virginia quarterbacks and fans alike. Additions were necessary after the 2024 offensive line surrendered 47 sacks, which ranked 17th in the ACC.
Wyatt has had an up-and-down college career. He started 33 consecutive games for James Madison before suffering a knee injury that cut short his 2023 season and sidelined him for the entirety of 2024. Wyatt has not appeared in a game in nearly two years, but he was a steady presence for the Dukes when healthy, posting a Pro Football Focus 60.6 rating in 2023. At a minimum, he will be a reliable and impactful contributor as long as he is injury-free.
Wigenton, on the other hand, joins the Cavaliers with only six career starts under his belt and 16 total games played at Michigan State — his first school — and Illinois, where he spent the 2024 season. Despite the fact that he has not been the most experienced addition, landing a starter from a ranked Big Ten team is a step in the right direction.
Notably, both offensive linemen posted higher PFF pass block ratings — 72.0 for Wyatt and 62.7 for Wigenton — than run block ratings in their most recent seasons. Wyatt and Wigenton’s main contribution is to protect the quarterback. Perhaps Coach Tony Elliott could be fed up with the lack of time to throw that his quarterbacks have had the past few seasons. Either way, adding to the offensive line is a wise investment.
In addition to protecting the quarterback, rushing the opposing team’s passer was also a key weakness of the Cavaliers last season. The addition of Camac should help with this.
Camac finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference with 7.5 sacks last season as a junior. He is ascending, productive and well-rounded. Despite his proficiency as a pass rusher, last season Camac graded out higher as a run defender according to PFF, posting a 74.8 run defense grade. Most of his statistics may not have come against Power Four competition, but with his size, there is reason to believe he can make the jump to ACC play.
Between the 15 portal acquisitions and an additional 19 signed high school players, the Cavaliers have chipped away at their 43 vacated roster spots. But it does not take a degree from the School of Engineering to know that math does not yet add up. There is still work to be done, and more transfers are likely to follow.
Still, Virginia has undoubtedly emerged as a significant winner in the transfer portal. The Cavaliers have already retooled their quarterback room, and have added a few potential starters on defense plus several impactful contributors on the defensive line and the offensive line.
Read More
Men’s basketball suffers road drubbing versus California
By Emory Huffman | 9 hours agoVirginia submitted another rudderless performance.
After months of planning, men’s basketball embarks on first West Coast swing
By Michael Liebermann | YesterdayVirginia, in the eyes of the rest of the conference, is a guinea pig.
Mike Hollins named recipient of the 2025 NCAA Inspiration Award
By Xander Tilock | 2 days agoAs he continues to assist the Cavaliers as a coach, his legacy of inspiration will only continue to grow.
