Phillip Sims transferring to Virginia

Updated: May 2, 2012, 6:02 PM ET

Former Alabama quarterback Phillip Sims will officially transfer to Virginia, the Cavaliers announced on Wednesday.

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"Virginia football welcomes Phillip Sims to our family," Virginia coach Mike London said in a release. "Hopefully he will have a productive career her at UVa as his previous accolades have shown."

ESPN's Joe Schad reported on Monday that Sims, according to a source, had informed Virginia's staff that he would enroll at the school.

Sims lost the Crimson Tide's quarterback battle to AJ McCarron early in the 2011 season, which concluded with the team winning the national title. ESPN's No. 1 quarterback from the Class of 2010, Sims redshirted his freshman season before appearing in eight games last fall, completing 64 percent of his passes for 163 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

A Chesapeake, Va., native, Sims issued a statement through Alabama on Friday saying he needed to be closer to home to support his family.

Virginia has not yet said whether Sims will seek an NCAA appeal citing family circumstances as the reason for his transfer, which, if granted, would give him eligibility for the 2012 season.