Jalen McNair brings transfer-tested toughness to Virginia’s secondary
In the 2026 season, Jalen McNair has opened at Virginia as a senior safety/DB with a reputation for physical run support and dependable tackling, not flashy ball-hawking yet. At Buffalo in 2024, he posted 50 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and 4 pass breakups, and in 2025 he logged 543 snaps with a strong 78.3 run-defense grade; that screams “reliable tone-setter” more than gadget player. At 5-foot-8 and 198 pounds, he’s compact, tough, and immediately useful for a defense that values downhill, assignment-sound backs.
