The Virginia football team continued its work in the transfer portal as the Hoos picked up their 19th commitment for this cycle on Monday night. Jayden Thomas, a Notre Dame transfer receiver, became the latest to join the program after a visit to Charlottesville.

Thomas entered the portal shortly after the Irish completed their season in the National Championship Game. He named a top four of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Auburn, and UCLA. Quality Control Sports Agency confirmed his commitment to multiple media outlets.

Thomas played in 43 games for Notre Dame, including 12 as a starter. He appeared in all 16 games for Notre Dame this season and made 18 catches for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. That included 2 catches for 14 yards against UVA on Nov. 16.

For his career, Thomas tallied 64 receptions for 838 yards and 7 touchdowns. Some of his better statistical games came in bowl games. As a sophomore, he made 5 catches for 66 yards against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl. As a junior, he made 4 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in the Sun Bowl against Oregon State.

The 6’2”, 218-pound senior redshirted in 2021-2022 and has one year of eligibility remaining. Thomas came to Notre Dame out of Pace Academy in Georgia where he played for current Cavalier assistant coach Chris Slade. Rivals and ESPN rated him a 4-star recruit coming out of high school, while 247 Sports had him a 3-star prospect that projected as a Power 4 starter.

This is UVA’s third receiver addition from the transfer portal. Purdue’s Jahmal Edrine (6’3”, 215) and JMU’s Cam Ross (5’10”, 181) made the call for the Cavaliers earlier. The attention to the position was expected after significant turnover from last year’s roster. Top wideout Malachi Fields along with JR Wilson, Jaden Gibson, and Ethan Davies all picked new schools via the transfer portal. Chris Tyree, a Notre Dame transfer that suited up for the Hoos last season, also finished his career.

That leaves Trell Harris, a Kent State transfer that played in only four games last year due to injury, Kameron Courtney, Suderian Harrison, and Andre Greene Jr. as the main returnees with experience. Harris leads that group with 54 catches for 756 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career. Adding Edrine (62 catches, 935 yards, 8 TDs), Ross (151 catches, 1,799 yards, 9 touchdowns), and Thomas brings some needed experienced and proven production to the table. There should be plenty of competition for snaps.

Virginia ranked 107th nationally in scoring offense last season at 22.7 points per game so the hope is that an infusion of additional talent and depth on that side of the ball helps improve that average. UVA also added quarterbacks Chandler Morris and Daniel Kaelin during the transfer portal cycle.

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