The Virginia football team received its first good news from the transfer portal on Tuesday. Notre Dame receiver Chris Tyree decided to return to his home state with the Hoos with one year of eligibility remaining.
The Richmond native played at Thomas Dale High School and will join incoming freshman Ethan Minter as a representative of the Knights in UVA’s program.
A visit to UVA this weekend sealed the deal on his return. Tyree announced his choice on social media.
Back Home. Let’s work!!! 李 pic.twitter.com/f7PryHxxpS
— Chris Tyree (@chris_tyree4) December 5, 2023
Tyree carved out a role immediately with the Irish and proved productive each season with more than 450 yards of total offense in all four seasons. He spent his first three seasons at running back with 73 carries for 496 yards and 4 touchdowns as a freshman to go with 65 yards receiving, 56 carries for 222 yards and 1 touchdown plus 258 yards and 2 TDs receiving as a sophomore, and 100 carries for 444 yards and 3 touchdowns alongside 138 yards and 2 TDs receiving as a junior.
This past season, Tyree moved to receiver and posted 484 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. That yardage led Notre Dame and he ranked third on the roster with 26 receptions. He recorded career scores by punt return, kick return, rush attempt, and reception, the first player to accomplish that feat since Julius Jones, another familiar name to Hoo fans.
Irish coach Marcus Freeman said in October that Tyree is “still getting better” and is “just starting to scratch the surface of how good he can be.”
That could be good news for the Hoos as Tyree seems to have an obvious road to playing time as a slot receiver. The Cavaliers just featured one-year transfer receiver Malik Washington in a starring role that could be the blueprint. Washington set UVA records with 110 receptions and 1,426 yards this past season while also hauling in 9 touchdowns on the way to numerous postseason honors that included Pro Football Focus second-team All American most recently.
Tyree entered the college ranks as a five-star recruit by 247 Sports and as a four-star recruit by Rivals. He was ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 player in Virginia by the scouting services at both as well as by ESPN.
