T.J. Thorpe has decided to leave North Carolina, but, as it turns out, he won’t be changing conferences.
Virginia announced via a press release Tuesday that Thorpe has decided to transfer into the Cavaliers football program. Because the wide receiver graduated from UNC in December, he will be eligible to play immediately in 2015, provided he enters into graduate program not offered at his previous school.
“We recruited T.J. very hard out of high school and are glad to finally have him join our program,” said UVa. coach Mike London in a statement. “He has a chance to come in and contribute immediately at both wide receiver and on special teams.”
Thorpe was a four-star member of UNC’s 2011 recruiting class, rated as the No. 15 receiver in the country, although he never could quite match the on-paper hype with on-field production thanks in large part to injuries.
This season in 11 games played, and after breaking a foot during summer camp, Thorpe was eighth on the team in receptions (16) and sixth in receiving yards (237). He was tied for fourth, though, in receiving touchdowns with three.
For his Tar Heel career, Thorpe finished with 42 receptions, 574 yards and five touchdowns. He missed the entire 2012 season because of a broken left foot, then broke the same foot each of the next two years.
“I just want everyone to know that this decision is bittersweet,” Thorpe said in a Twitter statement posted Monday. “Bitter because I’m leaving my teammates and a place that has done so much for me. But sweet because I am looking forward to [showcasing] my abilities one last time.”