Sims Leaves Virginia Without Starting QB

Former Virginia QB Phillip Sims has gone from highly-touted recruit to searching for a new place to take snaps after leaving the program for academic reasons. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia split time between two quarterbacks last year.

QB Phillip Sims left the programafter learning he failed to meet academic eligibility requirements, the program announced Friday. Team that with Michael Rocco’s decision to transfer to Richmond and suddenly Mike London’s Cavaliers have zero quarterbacks.

Feel free, Virginia Tech fans, to insert your joke about them having no quarterbacks last year, either.

Sims, who transferred to Virginia from Alabama, was in the midst of a three-way position battle with David Watford and Greyson Lambert. Make that a two-way position battle.

Wherever Sims winds up, he will bring hope that he can live up to his considerable recruiting rankings. He ranked No. 2 in Rivals’ position rankings among pro-style quarterbacks.

Hey, nobody bats 1.000.

Sims played in every game last year, starting in four. He completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,263 yards and nine TDs against four INTs.

The Cavaliers struggled regardless of who took snaps, losing eight of their last 10 games and scoring more than 20 points just twice.

London will likely find himself on the hot seat unless he can get steadier play at the quarterback position.