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Virginia Adds New Mexico State Transfer Quarterback Gavin Frakes

The Cavaliers reinforced the depth in their quarterback room with a commitment from New Mexico State QB Gavin Frakes

Matt Newton

Virginia Adds New Mexico State Transfer Quarterback Gavin Frakes
Virginia Adds New Mexico State Transfer Quarterback Gavin Frakes /
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Virginia made a move to improve its depth at the most important position on the field, landing a commitment from New Mexico State transfer quarterback Gavin Frakes on Friday night. Frakes comes to UVA with three years of eligibility remaining. 

A 6'4", 220-pound quarterback from Norman, Oklahoma, Frakes appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 2022, including five starts. That season, he completed 55 of 110 passing attempts (50%) for 735 yards and four touchdowns, but threw seven interceptions. Frakes also rushed 33 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns. 

After redshirting the 2023 season, Frakes entered the transfer portal on December 26th. He picked up a few offers in the portal and then took an official visit to UVA that started on Thursday. The Cavaliers extended him a scholarship offer during the visit and Frakes made his official commitment to Virginia on Friday. 

Virginia entered the offseason feeling pretty good about its quarterback situation, as the Cavaliers are returning two quarterbacks who started six games in the 2023 season. Rising sophomore Anthony Colandrea is expected to be UVA's starter in 2024 with Tony Muskett, who announced last week that he will be using his final year of eligibility to return to Virginia next season, giving the Cavaliers an experienced backup. 

With that said, the UVA coaching staff wasn't satisfied with the roster depth at the quarterback position behind Colandrea and Muskett, which makes sense given that the Cavaliers were still down a scholarship QB on the roster after Jay Woolfolk decided to leave the program to focus on baseball this summer. In that context, this is a solid move to pick up a transfer quarterback with some, albeit limited, real game experience to give Virginia a third scholarship quarterback on the roster. 

Gavin Frakes is the eighth transfer commitment Virginia has added this offseason, joining Notre Dame wide receiver Chris Tyree, Akron linebacker Corey Thomas Jr., Harvard tight end Tyler Neville, Penn defensive back Kendren Smith, UCF offensive lineman Drake Metcalf, North Carolina wide receiver Andre Greene Jr., and Kent State wide receiver Trell Harris.

 Keep track of all of Virginia's activity in the college football transfer portal here: Virginia Football Transfer Portal Updates

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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