UVA Defensive Backs Analysis for 2024

Room for improvement. Virginia ranked 11th in the ACC in pass defense last season, allowing 2,697 yards and 19 touchdowns while recording just eight interceptions in 2023. This group, which welcomes several transfers and returns a good number of players, will look to build on its lackluster performance in 2023.

Let’s start with the safeties, the 2023 All-ACC first-team safety Jonas Sanker returns for his final season in Charlottesville. In 2024, expect Sanker to not only be the leader of Virginia’s defensive secondary, but of Virginia’s entire defense. In 2023, Sanker led the Cavaliers in total tackles (107), pass breakups (11) and forced fumbles (3). Joining Sanker at strong safety will be the sixth-year Antonio Clarywho returns after missing the entire 2023 season due to injuries.

In our final depth chart projection, we have sophomores Caleb Hardy positioning himself as the number two behind Sanker after recording 14 total tackles and an interception in 2023, while he was a graduate student Elie Gaines could support Clary at strong safety.

Move to cornerbacks, transfer from Eastern Michigan Kempton Brilliancewho stood out in fall camp, plays left cornerback. Shine left Eastern Michigan with 27 pass deflections, the second-most in program history.

Learn more about Kempton Shine here: Virginia CB Kempton Shine impresses in first fall camp as a Cavalier

UVA’s coaching staff said the cornerback battle was the most competitive and tightest of any position group during fall camp. In addition to Shine, fellow transfers Kendren Smith and Jam Jackson and sophomore Dre Walker round out the four-man field competing for the starting cornerback spot.

Walker played in nine games as a freshman, starting three times, and recorded six passes defended and one interception. Penn transfer Kendren Smith played four seasons for the Quakers, recording 138 tackles, 24 passes defended, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions and earning a two-time All-Ivy League selection. Jam Jackson comes to Virginia after two seasons at Robert Morris, where he was named FCS Freshman All-American by Phil Steele and was named Big South-OVC Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year.

We have Kempton Shine and Dre Walker pegged as UVA’s expected starters, but we expect all four players to play significant snaps in the secondary this season.

Read our final depth chart projections for Virginia here: Virginia Football Projected Depth Chart 4.0: Final Projections Ahead of Game Day

With fall camp over, Virginia’s secondary now turns its attention to the season opener against Richmond, where they will face either Kyle Wickersham or Camden Coleman at quarterback, with the Spiders hosting their own quarterback battle during fall camp.

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