University of Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott’s mission to bolster the defensive line through the transfer portal progressed this week, with the Cavaliers landing commitments from Miami (OH) defensive end Kameron Butler and Stanford defensive end/outside linebacker Andres Fox.
Butler announced his commitment via Twitter on Friday (February 18). Fox tweeted the below photo on Thursday (February 17) before confirming his commitment to 247 Sports and Rivals this weekend.
GOD has been too good to me. 💯 pic.twitter.com/uZaCn2k9yt
— 🦊 (@AndresLFox6) February 17, 2022
Virginia has gained four defensive line prospects through the transfer portal this offseason while losing two. Gone are sophomore Nusi Malani, who is now at Washington State, and redshirt junior nose tackle Jordan Redmond. The committed and/or signed transfers are …
– Paul Akere, 6’3”, 250 pounds, Columbia
Akere has signed a non-binding grant-in-aid with plans to enroll this summer, after he graduates from Columbia. The Second-Team All-Ivy League pick is coming off his most productive collegiate season in which he totaled 42 tackles, including nine tackles for loss with five sacks. Akere has two years of eligibility remaining.
– Kameron Butler, 6’3”, 250 pounds, Miami (OH)
The most decorated of UVA’s defensive line commits, Butler is a three-time All-MAC selection, earning Second-Team honors twice and First-Team honors this past season. He has 16 career sacks, eight of which came in 2021. Butler, who has not yet signed a grant-in-aid with UVA, has one year of eligibility remaining. He is expected to enroll this summer.
– Jack Camper, 6’5”, 250 pounds, Michigan State
Camper played in 27 career games at Michigan State, starting out as a tight end before moving to defense early on in his career. He totaled 29 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss in his Spartan career. Camper’s 2021 season was limited to three games due to injury; an injury that may keep him limited for spring practice. He enrolled on Grounds in January of 2022 and has one year of eligibility remaining, although he may be able to gain another year if 2021 is deemed a medical redshirt.
– Andres Fox, 6’4”, 245 pounds, Stanford
Fox will graduate from Stanford this spring with a degree in Psychology before transferring in this summer. From defensive tackle to defensive end to outside linebacker, the Mobile (AL) native moved around quite a bit at Stanford. He wound up playing in 23 games in four seasons tallying 13 tackles including three tackles for loss. Though he played in each of the past four seasons, Fox played in only four games as a sophomore (thus preserving his redshirt) in 2019 and gets an extra year because of COVID, so he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.
“They didn’t really know where to put me,” Fox told TheSabre.com when asked why he is leaving Stanford. “I wish it could have worked out better on the field, but Stanford really matured me as a man.”
Camper seems sure to play with a hand on the ground, either in an end or a tackle role, depending on the defensive set. Akere, Butler and Fox all seem like edge players, whether that is in a standup role or with a hand on the ground.
In terms of the interior defensive line, Virginia notched a big “win” when rising senior Aaron Faumui withdrew his name from the transfer portal.
“I think Aaron coming back was big for us in the interior d-line,” Elliott said. “I think we need to continue to work there to increase the numbers on the interior d-line. Still, can’t have enough of the edge rushers. D-line, you can’t have enough of ‘em.”
Including the two new transfer commits, Virginia’s projected defensive line unit now includes 12 scholarship players. The Hoos could use another defensive lineman with size and the ability to play on the interior, so look for Coach Elliott and company to stay in the transfer market for at least one more defensive lineman.
Transfer Portal Recap
Below is a rundown of what has taken place in the transfer portal this offseason.
Transfer Additions
– Paul Akere, DE, Columbia, Two Years of Eligibility Remaining
– Kameron Butler, DE, Miami (OH), One Year of Eligibility Remaining
– Jack Camper, DL, Michigan State, One Year of Eligibility Remaining (Possibly two?), Enrolled
– Devin Crawford, WR/KR, Wisconsin, Three Years of Eligibility Remaining, Enrolled
– John Paul Flores, OL, Dartmouth, Two Years of Eligibility Remaining
– Andres Fox, DE, Stanford, Two Years of Eligibility Remaining
– Mac Hollensteiner, OL, Georgetown, Two Years of Eligibility Remaining
Returning Hoos (Entered Portal But Decided To Return)
– Jaylon Baker, WR/DB, Rising Redshirt Senior
– Joshua Rawlings, TE, Rising Redshirt Freshman
– Aaron Faumui, DL, Rising Senior
– Olasunkonmi Agunloye, DL, Rising Redshirt Sophomore
UVA Scholarship Players Who Are In The Portal And/Or Have Transferred (Note: Those with * are seniors with extra eligibility because of COVID.)
OFFENSE (Player Name, Position, Current Year – New School)
– Ira Armstead, QB, Redshirt Freshman – Eastern Illinois
– Jacob Rodriguez, QB, True Freshman – Texas Tech
– Wayne Taulapapa, RB, Senior*
– Jesiah Davis, WR, True Freshman
– Ugo Obasi, WR, Junior – Monmouth
– Kariem Al Soufi, OG, Redshirt Sophomore
– Joe Bissinger, OG, Redshirt Junior – SMU
– Bobby Haskins, OL, Senior* – Southern California
– Olusegun Oluwatimi, C, Senior* – Michigan
– Ryan Swoboda, OT, Senior* – Central Florida
DEFENSE
– Nusi Malani, DL, Sophomore – Washington State
– Jordan Redmond, DL, Redshirt Junior
– Noah Taylor, LB, Senior* – North Carolina
– West Weeks, LB, Freshman – LSU
– Tenyeh Dixon, DB, Redshirt Freshman – Elizabeth City State
– Joseph White, DB, Redshirt Junior – Norfolk State
What’s Next?
During a February 2 press conference, Coach Elliott provided a rundown of remaining needs he and his staff could address in the portal this offseason. This is in addition to the defensive line.
“Possibly a running back,” Elliott said. “Really excited to see [the current running backs] get an opportunity as we install the offense, because I believe we’re going to be a little bit more balanced and give those guys opportunities to showcase, but just looking at numbers-wise, looking at another running back. Another tight end. Linebacker, we’re in good shape. We’ve got a lot of depth there and I think we’ve got some talented guys coming up. Offensive line we’re in good shape. Receiver we’re in good shape. It’d be more so the running back position, the tight end position, and then see can we find some more help on the defensive line. And if you run across and elite secondary player.”
Although he said the numbers were good, the offensive line is a place where the Hoos could add more transfers too. Washington State center Brian Greene and Vanderbilt tackle Tyler Steen have expressed interest and would be great additions, giving the Hoos significant Power 5 starting experience at center and tackle. The focus could shift as well following spring football, which will give the staff a better evaluation of the current roster makeup.
Great article.
I like all the transfer portal players, but what about a defense Tackle from Georgia Tech is he good enough or a big NT. I like to a bigger center and a TE that has speed.I think coach Elliott is under rated and a great Coach and he will succeed all expectations if he given all the resources he needs. Number one is (facility)
Great article and rundown of the situation. Seems more to me that post-spring it is going to be a pure talent grab. That staff will try to attract several of the best prospects in the portal to add them to the roster and upgrade the base talent level of the team. I mean he says they’re good at Linebacker, but if someone like a Henry To’oto who left Tennessee and went to Bama showed interest I think they’d jump on the chance to land a talent like that at any position.