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Virginia Football Lands Nebraska Quarterback Transfer Daniel Kaelin

Aidan Baller

Daniel Kaelin/IG
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Virginia football has landed Daniel Kaelin in the transfer portal, the Cavaliers' first commitment from the portal in this cycle and, more importantly, their first quarterback and potential starter at the most important position on the field for the 2025 season.

Kaelin, a true freshman from Nebraska with four years of eligibility remaining, announced his commitment Sunday morning to the Virginia Cavaliers on X. 

Kaelin spent one season at Nebraska as the third quarterback on the depth chart behind Dylan Raiola and Heinrich Haarberg. With Raiola being the same year as Kaelin, his chances of ever seeing the field as a Cornhusker were low, most likely leading to his departure from Lincoln, Nebraska. 

The 6'3", 220-pound quarterback arrives in Charlottesville and will join Gavin Frakes and Grady Brosterhous, as well as incoming true freshmen Bjorn Jurgensen and Cole Geer in the quarterback room this spring. After the transfer of Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett, who exhausted all of his eligibility, the addition of Kaelin gives a huge boost to UVA's quarterback room and the Virginia offense. 

Kaelin is originally from Elkhorn, Nebraska, where, at Bellevue High School, he threw for 2,225 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only six interceptions during his senior year. He also showcased himself as a quarterback who can run, notching 169 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Kaelin originally committed to Missouri out of high school before flipping his commitment to Matt Rhule and the Cornhuskers. He also received offers from Miami, North Carolina, Michigan State, Minnesota, Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, Duke, Florida State, Rutgers and other schools in his initial high school recruiting process.

The addition is huge for Tony Elliott and his staff as the Cavaliers have begun to show that they are using their new NIL money to their advantage in building a strong roster for 2025. Elliott has said that UVA will strongly consider pursuing multiple quarterbacks in the transfer portal this offseason. Virginia is excited about the future potential of the freshmen Jurgensen and Geer, but neither are likely to figure on UVA's depth chart in 2025. Former New Mexico State transfer Gavin Frakes will be given a chance to compete for a spot on the depth chart, but Daniel Kaelin will transfer to Virginia and become the immediate favorite to be the team's starter heading into the 2025 season. That could change depending on if UVA lands another quarterback transfer and who that transfer is.

What is certain is that Virginia will have a new starting quarterback to begin the season for the fourth year in a row under Tony Elliott.

Keep track of all of UVA's transfer portal activity, including outgoing and incoming transfers here: Virginia Football Transfer Portal Tracker

Stay up to date on all of the transfers who have received offers from Virginia or who have scheduled visits to UVA here: Tracking UVA Football's Offers and Visits in the Transfer Portal

More Virginia Football News

Former UVA Quarterback Anthony Colandrea Taking Visit to ACC School

UVA Football Hosting Several Defensive Transfers for Visits

Virginia Scheduled to Host Multiple Offensive Line Transfers for Visits

10 Potential Quarterback Targets for UVA Football in Transfer Portal

UVA Football: Multiple Players Enter Portal on First Day of Transfer Window

Published |Modified
Aidan Baller
AIDAN BALLER

Aidan has been writing for Virginia Cavaliers On SI since January of 2023 and covers UVA football, basketball, men's soccer, and men's lacrosse. He is from New York and is currently in his fourth year at the University of Virginia, enrolled in the M.S. in Accounting program.

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