The Virginia Cavaliers are continuing to reshape their offense through the transfer portal, and their latest addition brings both experience and depth to the tight end room. Lukas Ungar, a well-traveled veteran entering his seventh year of college football, joins the Hoos after previous stops at Stanford and New Mexico State.
Ungar began his career with the Cardinal back in 2020, a season that didn’t count against eligibility due to the pandemic freeze. Over his time at Stanford, he saw action in 18 games, though his on-field opportunities were limited - just one appearance in 2022 and none in 2024.
He transferred to New Mexico State for the 2025 season, where he played in eight games before an injury cut his year short. Thanks to a redshirt year and a medical hardship waiver, those three seasons count as just one year of eligibility, giving Ungar the rare opportunity to suit up for a seventh college season.
Statistically, Ungar’s production has been modest - three catches for 13 yards at Stanford and another three grabs for 14 yards last season with the Aggies - but his value to Virginia goes beyond the box score. His experience, maturity, and understanding of multiple offensive systems could make him a valuable asset in a position group that’s undergoing a transition.
Ungar joins fellow transfer Connor Cox, who arrives from North Carolina after also spending time at South Carolina. Together, they’ll help fill the void left by Sage Ennis, who completed his eligibility.
Cox brings 18 games of experience to the table and still has two years of eligibility remaining. The only returning tight ends with notable in-game experience are John Rogers and Dakota Twitty - the latter of whom suffered a season-ending injury in game six against Louisville last season.
Ungar’s arrival pushes Virginia’s total number of transfer commitments to 28 this cycle, with 13 of those coming on the offensive side of the ball. That includes two quarterbacks, two offensive linemen, three running backs, four wide receivers, and the two tight ends in Ungar and Cox. Importantly, most of these additions come with real college experience - a clear sign that Virginia is looking for players who can contribute right away.
At quarterback, the Hoos added Beau Pribula and Eli Holstein, both of whom bring starting experience from Power Five programs. Pribula comes from Missouri, where he threw for 1,941 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season, while also adding 297 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
Holstein, who has spent time at Alabama and Pitt, started 10 games for the Panthers in 2024, throwing for 2,228 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven picks, plus 328 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Last season, he saw action in eight games and tossed 12 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Virginia also retooled its backfield with three new faces. Jekail Middlebrook brings versatility after racking up 1,228 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns at Middle Tennessee State last season.
Peyton Lewis, formerly of Tennessee, found the end zone seven times on just 70 carries in 2025, while UAB’s Solomon Beebe offers explosive special teams value. Beebe totaled 1,222 all-purpose yards last year, including 600 on kick returns - becoming the only FBS player last season (and the first since 2023) to log 600 return yards and six rushing touchdowns in the same campaign.
The wide receiver room also got a facelift. Rico Flores Jr. brings a solid résumé from UCLA and Notre Dame, where he started 16 games and caught 65 passes for 853 yards and two touchdowns across three seasons.
Da’Shawn Martin had a breakout year at Kent State in 2025, posting 33 catches for 507 yards and four scores. Jacquon Gibson led UMass in receptions last season with 63 catches for 616 yards, while Tyson Davis added 25 grabs for 323 yards and two touchdowns at Central Michigan.
The offensive line additions are more developmental. Ryan Brubaker saw limited action at South Carolina while dealing with injuries, and Alex Payne didn’t play as a true freshman last season at USC. Still, both offer depth and potential upside as they grow into their roles.
All told, Virginia’s approach in this portal cycle has been clear: find experienced, battle-tested players who can step in and contribute immediately. With 13 offensive transfers - many of them with significant playing time under their belts - the Hoos have laid the foundation for a revamped unit in 2026. Whether it all clicks remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: this isn’t a rebuild, it’s a reload.