Virginia beats out Colorado, USC for Elon defensive end Moore

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Cazeem Moore could have elected to sign with Deion Sanders at Colorado or with Lincoln Riley at Southern Cal, but the North Carolina native instead signed with Virginia.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end from Elon became UVA’s seventh signee from the transfer portal on Thursday.

In the end, Moore chose the Cavaliers over Texas Tech, Memphis and Cincinnati, spurning offers from Colorado, USC, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Pitt, Rutgers, Cal, Oklahoma State, Kentucky and others.

Moore has one year of eligibility remaining.

His addition is key in rebuilding a defensive line that was depleted by either exhausted eligibility or the transfer portal. Only Anthony Britton and Jason Hammond are expected to return.

In Moore’s final season at Elon, he posted 51 tackles, 6 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 10 QB hurries and 3 forced fumbles. In ‘23, in 11 starts, he had 31 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 5 hurries and a forced fumble.