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Elon Defensive End Cazeem Moore Commits to Virginia

Aidan Baller|
Elon Athletics

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Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia football continues to emphasize bulking up its defensive line for the 2025 season, with the Hoos landing their second defensive lineman in defensive end Cazeem Moore from Elon. Moore, who has one year of eligibility, announced his commitment on X on Thursday (December 19).

Moore brings size to the UVA defensive line at 6'5, 255 pounds, which should help boost a UVA defense that finished 11th in the ACC in rushing defense and second to last in the ACC in sacks with 19. 

As a freshman, Moore played in all 12 games, including starting the season's final two games and recording 24 tackles and four sacks (2nd on the team). He also recorded five tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and four quarterback hurries. 

After a strong first year, Moore started eleven games at defensive end his sophomore year, registering 31 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks. He added a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and five quarterback hurries. 

This past season, Moore's numbers exploded, with the junior recording 51 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, and ten quarterback hurries. The last Virginia player to record six or more sacks in a season was Chico Bennett in 2022 with seven.

Moore committed to Virginia over Texas Tech, Memphis, and Cincinnati. 

The addition of Moore will boost a UVA defensive line that is expected to lose Chico Bennett, Kam Butler, and Jahmeer Carter to exhausted eligibility and Bryce Carter, Michael Diatta, and Ben Smiley to the transfer portal. Despite the losses, Virginia is set to retain, as of December 19th, sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Britton and Jason Hammond, who was a bright spot early on before missing the last eight games of the season due to a shoulder injury. The Cavaliers also added Fresno State defensive tackle Jacob Holmes in the transfer portal to further boost their defensive line heading into 2025. 

With that, Moore will look to make an instant impact with the goal of overwhelming opposing offensive lines using his size and speed. 

Cazeem Moore is the seventh to transfer to Virginia this offseason, joining Nebraska quarterbackDaniel Kaelin, Louisville defensive back Devin Neal, Morgan State defensive back Ja'son Prevard, Fresno State defensive tackle Jacob Holmes, North Texas quarterback Chandler Morris, and NC Central running back J'Mari Taylor.

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

Virginia Signs NC Central Running Back Transfer J'Mari Taylor

UVA Football: Wide Receiver Malachi Fields Enters Transfer Portal

Potential Landing Spots for Former UVA QB Anthony Colandrea

Virginia Gets Commitment From North Texas Transfer QB Chandler Morris

Louisville Defensive Back Transfer Devin Neal Commits to Virginia

Virginia Football Lands Nebraska Quarterback Transfer Daniel Kaelin

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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