This was lost in the shuffle of last night's UNC-Notre Dame game. Tar Heel WR T.J. Thorpe, who announced earlier that he would be leaving Chapel Hill after graduating, has decided to finish his college football career at Virginia. Thorpe will be graduate student transfer and eligible to play immediately.
Thanks again pic.twitter.com/XJ9ustveZU
— TJ Thorpe (@ThorpeTJ) January 6, 2015
Thorpe's announcement comes two months after he caught the go-ahead touchdown pass from Mitch Trubisky in UNC's 28-27 win in Charlottesville.
Thorpe's career at UNC started with great promise. He was an All-ACC honorable mention as a returner in during his 2011 freshman season. From there his stay in Chapel Hill became one injury after another with Thorpe missing the entire 2012 season and suffering a broken foot(his third) at the start of the 2014 season. Thorpe's career best receiving season was 2013 when he had 24 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns. In 2014, Thorpe appeared in nine games, caught 16 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns.
There is undoubtedly a lot of "reading between the lines" that can be done with Thorpe's statement as well as the decision to transfer to a Coastal Division rival. Virginia is due to play in Chapel Hill next season which means Thorpe will play one more time in Kenan Stadium but on the visitor's side.
Ultimately, Thorpe was looking at a crowded corps of receiver with Ryan Switzer, Mack Hollins, Quinshad Davis and Bug Howard. His numerous injuries made it tough for him to establish himself as a productive receiver.
