Defensive back deja vu continues for the Virginia football team. The Hoos pulled in a defensive back commitment from the transfer portal for the ninth time this offseason on Monday. Kenan Johnson, a graduate student from Utah and previously Georgia Tech, became the latest to make the call for the Cavaliers.
Johnson announced his decision on social media.
Johnson will be familiar with the ACC. He started his career at Georgia Tech and played in 45 games from 2019-2023. As a true freshman, he appeared in four games and made 5 tackles but retained a traditional redshirt year. In 2020, he played in nine games with three starts and posted 13 tackles. That year was the NCAA eligibility waiver year due to the Covid pandemic.
In 2021 and 2022, Johnson worked as mostly a reserve defensive back and appeared in 21 games. He combined for 14 tackles in those two seasons. Johnson finally broke through as a starter again in 2023 when he made eight starts for the Yellow Jackets. He posted career-best numbers in that campaign with 29 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. That included 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 pass breakup against Virginia in November.
The 6’1”, 183-pound defensive back then transferred to Utah before the 2024 season, but played in just one game for the Utes. That came as a starter in the season opener against Southern Utah. He made 3 tackles before suffering a season-ending injury to his left knee. That opened the door for a medical redshirt and the additional year of eligibility that he will now use at UVA.
In addition to Johnson, eight other defensive backs gave commitments this offseason. Donavon Platt (Army), Ja'Maric Morris (Georgia State/UCF/Hutchinson CC/Georgia Military College), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona/Miami), Christian Charles (Tennessee), Da’Marcus Crosby (New Mexico State/Sam Houston/Kilgore College), and Jordan Robinson (Kentucky/Cincinnati/Livingstone) became portal commitments this spring in the secondary. During the winter transfer portal window, UVA also added Devin Neal (Baylor/Louisville) and Ja’Son Prevard (Morgan State) to the secondary group and both participated in spring practices.
Johnson figures into the roster picture most likely as a cornerback or potential nickel back, though defensive coordinator John Rudzinski moves pieces and responsibilities around based on personnel. Regardless, this further adds to the competition level across the secondary as Virginia has essentially stacked three or more players at every spot in the defensive backfield.
Virginia lost two-time first-team All-ACC safety Jonas Sanker and corners Kempton Shine and Kendren Smith as each completed their eligibility. Still, Dre Walker, Jam Jackson (potentially out with a long-term injury), Antonio Clary, Caleb Hardy, Ethan Minter, Kevon Gray, and Keke Adams are among the defensive backs returning on the roster with varying degrees of experience. That doesn’t count incoming freshmen like Corey Costner, who made an impression during spring practices after enrolling early.
The focus on the secondary throughout the offseason comes after Virginia ranked 121st in pass defense (263.1 yards per game) last season.
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