Connor Brewer May Finally Make Impact with Transfer to Virginia

The Virginia Cavaliers have suffered through well-documented quarterback issues in recent years but may finally be seeing their fortunes under center change for the better. Former Texas Longhorns and Arizona Wildcats quarterback Connor Brewer announced he would be joining the Cavaliers in 2015 as a graduate transfer, joining an offense that may finally open up the door for Brewer to make an impact on the field.

At one point, Brewer was considered one of the top young quarterbacks in the nation. As a former ESPN 150 recruit and Elite 11 quarterback, Brewer committed to Texas after leading his high school team to three state titles while throwing for over 7,000 yards and 100 touchdowns over three seasons. But all that prep success has not translated to playing time at the collegiate level.

After redshirting at Texas in 2012, Brewer transferred to Arizona in theory to take control of Rich Rodriguez‘s spread-option attack. But while Brewer sat out the 2013 season, Anu Solomon was making his mark during a redshirt year and ultimately won the starting job in 2014, leaving Brewer on the bench as a backup. After completing his degree at Arizona this spring, Brewer was set to transfer to FCS Northern Arizona before Greyson Lambert‘s departure from Virginia left an opening on the Cavaliers’ depth chart.

Armed with two seasons of eligibility remaining, Brewer heads east looking for a chance to make an impact on the field. Virginia head coach Mike London named Matt Johns as the No. 1 quarterback for the Cavaliers coming out of spring practice but that has been a kiss of death in recent years. With Lambert leaving, Virginia has seen their last three No. 1 quarterbacks to start a season transfer after losing their spot.

Brewer will work on diving into the playbook as soon as possible and make himself available to the Cavaliers in the event their bad luck at quarterback continues in 2015. But if he is able to get onto the field, will Brewer finally deliver on his potential everyone saw in him as a prep prospect or will he fall into the same funk that so many other quarterbacks have before him at Virginia?

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