Virginia Cornerback Fentrell Cypress II to Enter Transfer Portal

The Virginia protection made vital strides in its first season beneath defensive coordinator John Rudzinski. An enormous a part of that enchancment was the event of Anthony Johnson and Fentrell Cypress II into two of the most effective lockdown cornerbacks within the nation this season. 

In 2023, Rudzinski and the Cavaliers must attempt to substitute each Anthony Johnson, who has exhausted his eligibility and has declared for the NFL Draft and Fentrell Cypress II, who’s reportedly planning to enter the switch portal. 

Over the course of his first three seasons at UVA, Cypress appeared solely sporadically, taking part in in 9 complete video games, together with six begins. The mix of great private development and arduous work from Cypress and efficient teaching from John Rudzinski and Curome Cox resulted in a 2022 marketing campaign which was the definition of a breakout season for Cypress, who began 9 video games, recording 39 tackles and 14 passes defended. He broke up a mean of 1.44 passes per sport, which led the whole Atlantic Coast Convention. Cypress ranked eleventh in all of faculty soccer in Professional Soccer Focus’ protection grade, permitting solely 18 receptions all season. 

Cypress earned a variety to the All-ACC Second Staff and Professional Soccer Focus positioned him on its All-ACC First Staff. Cypress and Anthony Johnson, who earned First-Staff All-ACC honors, turned the primary UVA cornerback duo to earn All-ACC honors in the identical season within the historical past of the Virginia soccer program. 

READ MORE: Who Will Be Virginia’s Beginning Quarterback in 2023?

It is not troublesome to see the rationale of this resolution for Cypress, whose spectacular play on the cornerback place this season will seemingly lead to affords from various notable soccer applications. The troublesome season Virginia had on and off the sphere in yr one of many Tony Elliott period definitely had a hand on this resolution, nevertheless it additionally is sensible for a participant of Cypress’ caliber to parlay the breakout season to be able to discover a transfer to an even bigger, extra distinguished soccer program the place his play on the sphere will draw extra consideration and draft buzz, much like Olu Oluwatimi’s transfer to Michigan final yr. 

For Virginia, although, this can be a large blow, particularly when paired with the lack of Anthony Johnson, as UVA must substitute two of the highest cornerbacks within the nation heading into 2023. Happily for the Cavaliers, their secondary was a place of energy and depth this season, and there needs to be plenty of worthy candidates competing for the beginning cornerback spots subsequent fall, assuming after all that the UVA teaching employees can preserve outward-bound transfers to a minimal over the following few weeks. Solely time will inform on that entrance. 

Cypress is the third UVA participant to enter the switch portal this offseason, becoming a member of quarterback Brennan Armstrong and lengthy snapper Lee Dudley. 

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