Virginia Football Lands Nebraska Quarterback Transfer Daniel Kaelin

Originally posted on Virginia Cavaliers on SI
By Aidan Baller | Last updated Dec 15, 2024 12:10 PM ET

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.

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

Go Hoos! pic.twitter.com/XH24sW6YpX
— Daniel Kaelin (@DanielKaelin5) December 15, 2024

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 quarterback arrives in Charlottesville and will join Gavin Frakes and Grady Brosterhous in the quarterback room this spring. After the transfer of Anthony Colandrea and Tony Muskett, which exhausted all of his eligibility, the addition of Kaelin gave new life to a 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.

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.