NCAA grants Virginia transfer QB Phillips Sims waiver to play this season

Virginia announced that quarterback Phillip Sims, who transferred from Alabama back to his home state at the beginning of May, was granted a waiver by the NCAA that will allow him to play this fall, rather than sit out the customary year as a transfer.

Sims was rated the top QB in the class of 2010 by some scouting services but was unable to beat out A.J. McCarron for the Tide's starting job. After McCarron led Alabama to the national title last fall, it became highly unlikely that Sims would see meaningful playing time in Tuscaloosa until his senior season.

Sims, who will have to unseat junior starter Michael Rocco, will have three years of eligibility remaining in Charlottesville.

He was a high school teammate of Cavaliers running back Perry Jones and wide receiver Tim Scott, and his younger brother Zack has committed to UVa as a wide receiver in the class of 2013.