The Virginia football team picked up a transfer commitment at a position of need on Tuesday. Dayton offensive lineman Brian Stevens announced his intent to join the UVA program after entering the transfer portal following the 2022 season.
Excited to announce my commitment to The University of Virginia! Let’s go Hoos! Excited to get to work! @Coach_TerryHeff @Coach_MavMorris @coachdeskitch @Coach_TElliott pic.twitter.com/n4jwZuUrzZ
— Brian Stevens (@bsteves07) March 28, 2023
The Cavaliers needed to pursue OL reinforcements after three contributors – Logan Taylor (10 starts, transfer to Boston College), Jonathan Leech (8 starts, retired from football), and John Paul Flores (5 starts, transfer to Louisville) – departed following last season. They also brought in Terry Heffernan, also a Dayton graduate, from Stanford to replace offensive line coach Garett Tujague, who moved on to NC State.
Stevens took a visit to Virginia a little more than a week ago. He joins Ugonna Nnanna as incoming offensive linemen via the transfer route. Nnanna enrolled this semester after leaving Houston and has started practice with the team this spring. Both players have two years of eligibility remaining.
The 6’2”, 290-pound Stevens played offensive guard for the Flyers and started 19 games the past two seasons. He was named First-Team All-Pioneer Football League in 2022. Pro Football Focus gave him an 86.5 overall grade this season, which ranked fifth among Football Championship Subdivision offensive linemen. He served as a team captain this past season, a role he also held at Milford High School.
Stevens adds an experienced option to the competition on the offensive line where seven players are listed as underclassmen. Only junior Ty Furnish, junior Jestus Johnson III, junior Noah Josey, and sophomore McKale Boley have appeared for significant snaps with Virginia in their career. The Cavaliers open their 2023 season against Tennessee on Sept. 2 in Nashville.
