Transfer Watch: How are ex-Hoos faring in their new homes?

Transfers have become an accepted and integral part of today's major college athletics landscape.  While college basketball still leads the way in terms of impact transfers (praise unto Anthony Gill, Darius Thompson and Austin Nichols), football transfers can still make a large impact on a team's success.  This past week's contest at UCLA saw Albert Reid, a transfer from Maryland, returning kickoffs and Charley Hopkins, a transfer from Stanford, earn playing time at tight end for the Hoos.  For every impact transfer Virginia has received, however, it feels as though numerous players have been lost in return.  Today we take a look at where those players (at least the ones still in college) landed and how they fared in week one for their respective teams..

Greyson Lambert (QB, Georgia): Well there's no point in burying the lede.  Lambert became the highest profile UVa transfer in recent memory when he left in the spring after losing the starting spot to Matt Johns, only to be named the starter for Georgia, a team expected to contend for the SEC East title.  Lambert had a strong opening week for the Bulldogs, going 8/12 for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a 51-14 romp over Louisiana-Monroe.  Ultimately he'll be judged by how he fares against top-notch SEC competition, with his first major test occurring in two weeks on September 19th against South Carolina.

Jake McGee (TE, Florida): McGee missed all of last season with a broken tibia and fibula, but a medical redshirt allowed the former UVa star to hang around Gainesville for one more year.  His final season started slowly, with only two catches for 18 yards as the Gators trounced New Mexico State 61-13.  McGee remains the top tight end on the Florida depth chart, however, so he should have ample opportunity to showcase his talent in the weeks ahead.

David Watford (QB, Hampton): The seemingly forgotten transfer in the wake of Lambert's departure, it was only just over a season ago that Watford was the starting quarterback for the Hoos.  After attempting a conversion to wideout last year Watford opted to leave Charlottesville and return to his hometown school of Hampton University.  Watford, the starting QB for the Pirates, started off his homecoming in style, throwing for 345 yards and five touchdowns (along with three interceptions) as Hampton defeated Kentucky State 35-20.

Jamil Kamara (WR, Cincinnati): Kamara arrived at Virginia as a highly touted four-star prospect with major expectations.  In a controversial decision, the coaching staff chose not to redshirt Kamara last season only to see him catch just one pass for six yards.  Following that debacle, Kamara transferred to Cincinnati and will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out this year.

Dominique Terrell (WR, Duquesne): Another former four-star prospect, Terrell flashed glimpses of his talent during his first three years at Virginia before sitting out the 2014 season with a hernia.  During his time on the sidelines, he was passed over by numerous younger wideouts and chose to transfer to I-AA Duquesne where he could play immediately.  Terrell had three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown in the season opener as Duquesne beat Kentucky Christian 47-7.

Adrian Gamble (WR, Tennessee): Gamble showed promise as a first year wideout in 2012, highlighted by a touchdown reception in Virginia's near comeback against Louisiana Tech.  Gamble failed to build on this momentum in 2013, however, as he totaled just two catches for 27 yards.  After the season he transferred to emerging SEC power Tennessee and after sitting out last season he now finds himself on the Vols roster, though he's buried far down the depth chart and seems unlikely to see the field.

Demeitre Brim (LB, Central Florida): Brim left Virginia after his sophomore season in 2013, a year in which he appeared in all 12 games, starting twice and amassing 18 tackles.  Brim returned to his home state of Florida and had to sit out last season due to transfer rules.  Central Florida lost their season opener 15-14 last week to Florida International and while Brim made his way on the field he failed to record a tackle.

Kelby Johnson (OT, Louisville): Johnson played only one season at Virginia, 2011, appearing in four games before choosing to attend junior college at ASA (NY) College.  Following the 2012 season Johnson returned to D-I football and he's currently listed as the backup right tackle for the Cardinals.

Kye Morgan (DB, Stony Brook): Morgan was a running back at Virginia, redshirting in 2012 before earning eight carries for 15 yards in mop-up duty during 2013.  Seemingly stuck at the bottom of the depth chart, Morgan transferred to Stony Brook where he has moved to the defensive side of the ball, spending last season as the team's back-up free safety.

While the above players constitute the biggest names to leave the Virginia football program in recent years, other transfers have included Anthony Cooper (Virginia Union), Tyrell Chavis (Nassau Community College), Marco Jones (Fairmont State), Caleb Taylor (Faulkner University) and Kameron Mack (Virginia Union).

Overall it's unlikely that many of these players would have made an impact on the field for the Hoos.  However, if Lambert continues to thrive in Athens and McGee and Johnson can put together stellar seasons while the UVa offense sputters, Mike London and the coaching staff may be forced to answer even more tough questions about their personnel decisions.