Virginia’s defensive front is getting a potential boost with the return of two familiar veterans.
On Saturday, Virginia announced that defensive tackle Jacob Holmes and defensive end Cazeem Moore will be folded into the team’s preseason activities while the program sorts through the issues tied to their eligibility and return. The move comes with only three weeks left before the Cavaliers open the season, and it gives UVA a chance to evaluate both players as it continues building toward 2026.
Both Holmes and Moore were fourth-year seniors on Virginia’s 2025 team, which went 11-3 and won the Gator Bowl in December. Their possible return follows a week in which head coach Tony Elliott said the Cavaliers were looking at ways to add experienced help back onto the defensive line.
That push gained traction after last week’s court ruling in Colorado, where U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted an extra year of eligibility to athletes from the high school class of 2022 who exhausted their eligibility during the 2025-26 academic year. The NCAA has already said it plans to challenge the class-wide injunction, but the ruling opened the door for Virginia to keep talking with both defenders.
Elliott said earlier that the main concern was getting players back safely and properly integrated after time away from the normal offseason grind.
“For the players' health and safety,” Elliott said cited as a challenge with integrating the pair in an earlier presser. “Those guys that may have transitioned on to a different style of life from January - that didn't go through offseason training, spring ball, or the summer workout. So an individual like that, you'd have to get him in shape first and then you got to get them in football shape then you got to integrate them into the team.
“And again, you didn't plan on those guys being a part of your program, so you made decisions and went out and provided opportunities to guys that have been here putting in work. So you just would have to work through the dynamics of integrating those guys back into the team, especially with the newer guys that you have on the roster.”
If Holmes does return, he would likely slide right back into the defensive tackle rotation after a strong first season in Charlottesville. The Fresno State transfer put together 25 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks in 2025, and he emerged as one of Virginia’s most disruptive interior pass rushers. The Cavaliers also lost Zion Wilson after his waiver was denied by the NCAA.
Moore, who transferred from Elon, could step back into a familiar role at defensive end. He recorded 18 tackles, three sacks and four quarterback hurries last season.
For now, Virginia is still waiting on the final pieces, but the communication remains open with both players as the Cavaliers work through what comes next.
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