Virginia Football Transfer Tracker: Hoos Lose Four Players To Transfer

Chris Horne

December 27, 2021 10

The Fenway Bowl was canceled on Sunday (December 26) due to COVID-19 issues within the University of Virginia football program. Since the announcement, transfer decisions from some of UVA's most important players have come quickly. Unfortunately for the Hoos and new head football coach Tony Elliott, the news hasn't been good.

Three-year starting center Olusegun Oluwatimi helped turn the Virginia football offensive line into one of the ACC's top units. He will spend his final collegiate year at the University of Michigan. ~ **Photo courtesy Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics Media Relations**

Despite Elliott retaining offensive line coach Garett Tujague, Virginia has lost three experienced offensive linemen to transfer. This includes the Cavaliers' most important lineman, center Olu Oluwatimi.

Oluwatimi, who earned All-ACC Second Team honors and was one of three finalists for the 2021 Rimington Trophy (nation's top center), announced that he will spend his final year of eligibility at Michigan. He has been a stalwart on the Cavalier offensive line the past three seasons, starting at center all three years.

Virginia has lost two other offensive linemen the past two days. Tackle/guard Bobby Haskins announced he is transferring to Southern California, while guard Joe Bissinger announced he is heading to SMU. Haskins started at left tackle the latter half of 2021, earning 2021 All-ACC Honorable Mention honors for his play. Bissinger was relegated to a reserve role the final half of 2021, but he started the first half at left guard. He had played in 21 games in his Cavalier career prior to the 2021 campaign.

Starting right guard Chris Glaser is out of eligibility and starting left tackle/guard Ryan Nelson has said he has played his final game in a Cavalier uniform, and with the decisions of the past two days, Virginia may enter 2022 having to replace its entire starting offensive line. If Ryan Swoboda, a full-time starter at right tackle, winds up transferring out as well, Virginia will feature new starters at all five offensive line positions in 2022. UVA has some young talent in the program, but look for Coach Elliott to try and address the line through the transfer portal.

In addition to the offensive line defections, we learned Monday that senior outside linebacker Noah Taylor is spending his final season of eligibility at ACC Coastal Division-rival North Carolina. Although he battled injuries the past two seasons, Taylor been one of the UVA defense's best players three consecutive years. The Hoos have promising young linebackers in the program and return All-ACC Second Team inside linebacker Nick Jackson, but a healthy Taylor would have given the unit another experienced, capable playmaker. Instead, the Hoos will play against him in Charlottesville next season.

Looking ahead, the next big decisions transfer-wise will come from the aforementioned Swoboda as well as defensive lineman Aaron Faumui. Both players provide tons of experience and are proven performers. Defensive end Nusi Malani is another potential transfer to watch. The California native showed flashes of promise as a true freshman in 2020 but struggled this past season.

Of course, Virginia continues to await official word from star quarterback Brennan Armstrong as well. He has said he will either return to Virginia or declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. Could the decisions of the offensive linemen impact Armstrong's decision?

UVA Scholarship Players In The Portal (Note: Those with * are seniors with extra eligibility because of COVID.)

OFFENSE

- Ira Armstead, QB, Redshirt Freshman – Transferring to Eastern Illinois

- Jacob Rodriguez, QB, True Freshman - Will not return to Virginia

- Jaylon Baker, WR/DB, Redshirt Junior

- Jesiah Davis, WR, True Freshman

- Ugo Obasi, WR, Junior - Indicated via Instagram that he will not return to Virginia

- Joshua Rawlings, TE, Redshirt Freshman - Has reportedly withdrawn from the transfer portal, will stay at UVA

- Kariem Al Soufi, OG, Redshirt Sophomore

- Joe Bissinger, OG, Redshirt Junior - Transferring to SMU

- Bobby Haskins, OL, Senior* - Transferring to Southern California

- Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Senior* - Transferring to Michigan

- Ryan Swoboda, OT, Senior*

DEFENSE

- Aaron Faumui, DL, Junior

- Nusi Malani, DL, Sophomore

- Olasunkonmi Ogunloye, DL, Redshirt Freshman – Has withdrawn from the portal, intends to stay at UVA

- Jordan Redmond, DL, Redshirt Junior - Will not return to Virginia.

- Noah Taylor, LB, Senior* - Transferring to North Carolina

- Tenyeh Dixon, DB, Redshirt Freshman

- Joseph White, DB, Redshirt Junior

Players Transferring To UVA

- Devin Chandler, WR, Redshirt Freshman, University of Wisconsin. Chandler announced his transfer the day Bronco Mendenhall resigned. UVA announced on Wednesday, December 15, that he has signed and plans to enroll in January of 2022.

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10 Comments

HOOSNICE December 28, 2021 at 7:14 PM

Bronco bailed on his team at a critical moment in time, because he had too much ego to let the AD fire the DC because of terrible results. He basically undid all of the success he achieved in one selfish decision. Clearly he let everyone down and set the program back years because he couldn't accept accountability. I am always a glass half full person, but like many loyal fans I am very disappointed he would rather sink the ship than own his staff's mistakes.
VTaimhigh December 28, 2021 at 6:48 PM

Should be thankful the portal is full of talent.
Sabres December 28, 2021 at 11:14 AM

Someone should tell Taylor that UNC Sux
hokieshayes December 28, 2021 at 11:01 AM

If folks want delayed gratification and the concept of team being more important than individual accolades, they need to preach that to coaches who jump ship before teams can finish their seasons, administrators who fire coaches in the middle of the season and fanbases who demand such actions. College football is a business and no one is exempted from the impact of this business. Everyone from administrators, coaches and even players make moves which best serve their business interest. The concept of delayed gratification and team is a decade old relic in today's sports and business world climate. No loyalty from all parties involved. So no one should be upset when players transfer for whatever reason they choose to do so.
1. FS3 December 28, 2021 at 5:17 PM
  
  So, swell. Some coaches -- and I still believe, a small percentage -- demonstrate a profound selfishness, and take the money and run. Therefore we should be happy that more and more 18-22 year-olds are doing the same. That kind of logic is part of the reason why we're where we are.
  1. hokieshayes December 29, 2021 at 11:13 AM
    
    Its not a matter of being happy its a reality. My logic is based on reality. Your logic is on wishful thinking by setting a standard for 18-22 year-olds that adults in the industry do not follow. Its hypocritical for you to criticize players and not look at the big picture that loyalty is not present al all levels. This includes administrators, coaches and now players. Everyone is looking out for his / her best interest rather you like it or not. The percentage is not as small as you think it is. How many coaches jumped ship this year? Nearly every big name coach who was giving an opportunity to go to bigger and / or better perceived pastures jumped ship leaving their teams in shamble as they prepare for bowl. You have to realize that this jumping ship applies to big name coaches. But let's go back 5 to 6 years ago, Justin Fuentes and Bronco Mendenhall who had somewhat of a big name, left their previous programs (Memphis and BYU) in the height of both programs being bowl eligible for what they perceived as bigger / better opportunities and the administrators from both Tech and UVA didn't care about their previous commitments or how hiring them immediately will impact their previous teams at that particular moment. But as it relates to even this year, Lincoln Riley from OU to USC, Brian Kelly from ND to LSU, Mario Christobal from Oregon to Miami. The other big name, Luke Fickell was approached, but decided to stay put, since his team is playing for a national title. One out of four of the best coaches in the country stayed at their respective programs. But the other three big names did not hesitate to leave their commitments to pursue better. What did these coaches have in common? The abandoning of their teams who are preparing for major bowls. Where is the loyalty? What example have they set? Do they expect players from these programs to stay loyal to their commitment? Did the administrators who went after these coaches care about these coaches finishing up their season / commitment before they decided to go after these guys? But yet when they hire them, they present them to the audience in press conferences as being someone of great moral standards who are loyal and committed to some standard of excellence and are great role models to the student athletes, smh. Its ridiculous and outright unfair for you to expect 18-22 years old to do what 30 - 60's year-olds are not willing to do. The bottom line is the NCAA / college sports is a pure business from all ends and that is a reality not a logic.
    1. The Lon December 30, 2021 at 11:19 AM
      
      It may be a reality. And i might have to accept it (though I don't know whatever makes you think we aren't). BUT it's ok to still value loyalty. We are allowed to be "upset" by disloyalty. We are allowed to critique the system, from top to bottom as you say, as rife with disloyalty. The school was expected to make a four year commitment to a player, but the player isn't expected to make a four year commitment to the school. One doesn't have to embrace the asymmetry of that. Notably, two of these transfers are players who fulfilled their 4 year agreement and are taking a bonus year to another place. that's a unique situation. And further, one has to worry about the status of programs like UVa and VPI in this world where any player can leave any year. We will be in the position of investing heavily in players, and once they are successful see them move on to USCwest, or Michigan, or the SEC. We run the risk of becoming a farm league where talent is developed and when it works see the payoff to the investment going to the B1G and the SEC and where it doesn't find ourselves limping along. Disloyal is disloyal and while that might be the nature of the business it erodes the fan's investment in college sports. We love our school and get excited about players who also love the school and are having a good experience. You're right to say it's not love, it's all just transactional. It's just Coke vs. Pepsi now. I can accept it, but I don't have to like it.
me chuckles December 28, 2021 at 10:33 AM

Too much coming & going....Can't win if they don't stay together.
FS3 December 28, 2021 at 8:28 AM

Say goodbye to delayed gratification and the concept of team play being more important than individual accolades... they're following these guys and heading for the portal as well.
Thehoodore December 28, 2021 at 7:44 AM

Well, that's tough news for sure. It would be nice to have this attrition done with so the rebuild can be the sole focus.