Through the first part of transfer portal season, the Virginia football team secured several important commitments at positions of need but one area still needed immediate attention. The offensive line. UVA locked in its first big pickup there with UAB transfer Brady Wilson.

Wilson announced his choice on social media and Virginia already announced that he has signed.

Wilson became the eighth portal commitment so far this month, joining Chandler Morris (QB), Daniel Kaelin (QB), Jacob Holmes (DT), Devin Neal (DB), Ja’Son Prevard (DB), J’Mari Taylor (RB), and Cazeem Moore (DE). He chose UVA over reported offers from Tulane, Houston, and Missisippi State. The Cavaliers have added three players on the two lines, a much-needed focus this offseason. They remain interested in more players in those spots.

At UAB, Wilson started 31 games the past three years. That included all 12 games in both 2023 and 2024 as he earned a spot on the Rimington Trophy Watch List both seasons. The 6’2”, 300-pound center helped block for running back Lee Beebe Jr., who posted 884 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the way to all-conference honors.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated Wilson as the highest graded player for UAB with an 83.1 overall this season. That split as an 86.2 in pass blocking and an 80.6 in run blocking. All three of those numbers would have topped the UVA chart as well. PFF charged Wilson with only 26 pressures allowed (sacks, hits, hurries) across 2,314 career snaps and 1,266 pass blocking snaps. That included just 1 sack.

That should help boost the offensive line at Virginia. The Hoos ranked 132nd nationally last season in sacks allowed. They tied for 123rd nationally in that category in 2023 as well.

The Cavaliers need O-Line additions as several rotation players wrapped up their time with the team. Guards Ty Furnish and Ugonna Nnanna each entered the transfer portal, while Brian Stevens completed his career. Stevens finished as a two-time All-ACC Honorable Mention pick at center. Wilson could be an immediate heir at that position, alongside options like Drake Metcalf and Noah Hartsoe, who both sat out this season with injuries, or Grant Ellinger, a 2024 true freshman that appeared in one game this fall.

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