Cavaliers add cornerback transfer Josh Hayes from North Dakota State

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On Saturday, Virginia said it had received a commitment from graduate transfer cornerback Josh Hayes from FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Hayes, who measures 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, will be immediately eligible and has one year of eligibility remaining.

Hayes, who will enroll in the summer, should provide a nice boost to the secondary and will heat up competition for UVa’s returning cornerbacks, a unit that struggled mightily in 2020. The Cavaliers gave up 304.4 yards passing per game, ranking 123rd out of 127 FBS teams in that category.

In his career with the Bison, Hayes played in 52 games and made 22 consecutive starts, a stretch that included six games this spring before he decided to transfer. He tallied 132 tackles, 3.5 for losses, 21 passes defended, and two interceptions. In 2019, he was named second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference when he recorded 59 tackles, 10 passes defended, and those two picks. He played in each of the FCS title games that the Bison won in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

This is the second time coach Bronco Mendenhall and his staff have looked to the transfer portal this offseason to shore up the cornerback spot. Right after the 2020 campaign, the Wahoos picked up Anthony Johnson from Louisville. He has two years of eligibility remaining and has been participating in spring practice.

Photo: Josh Hayes tries to tackle James Madison WR Riley Stapleton during the FCS title game Jan. 11, 2020. (Associated Press)

Last season, Virginia’s starting corners were Nick Grant and De’Vante Cross, both of whom decided to come back for their NCAA-granted sixth years. Cross has since moved back to safety this spring, where he started the 2019 season before moving to corner because of the injury to Bryce Hall. Grant has been a starting corner ever since Darrius Bratton went out in August 2019 with a knee injury. It will be interesting to see how Hayes fits into this puzzle and who ends up starting at corner. At the very least, I think he will push for time and make everyone better. He comes from a winning program as well, and I think that mentality can be valuable.

Virginia’s depth at corner includes Bratton, who is back for a fifth year after getting into nine games in 2020, but he didn’t look as good and as nimble as he did at the end of the 2018 season and leading into 2019. I hope with his knee injury more than a year behind him, he can start to look like his old self. The ‘Hoos also have redshirt freshman Elijah Gaines, who played in four games in 2020, and sophomore Tenyeh Dixon, who opted out last year.

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