The Virginia Cavaliers announced Monday night via a press release that offensive lineman Wallace Unamba has been dismissed from the football program “due to violation of team policy.”
A graduate transfer
who last played at New Mexico, Unamba signed with the ’Hoos in the Spring after a brief offseason stop at Kentucky. The Virginia athletic department indicated that it won’t be providing further details on Unamba’s dismissal, so there’s no need to speculate on the situation.
What we do know is that Unamba’s dismissal continues what has been a revolving door on the offensive line through the first half of the season. Unamba was thrust into the starting right tackle role after an injury to Monroe Mills in training camp, but the New Mexico transfer suffered a right knee injury in week one against Coastal Carolina that has kept him sidelined for UVA’s past five games.
The ’Hoos were hoping to get Unamba back on the field as soon as this weekend for Saturday’s game against Washington State. But after Monday night’s news, Virginia will continue to rely on Jack Witmer at right tackle, who has stepped up and played well in Unamba’s absence thus far.
Elsewhere on the offensive line, Tony Elliott provided an injury update during his Tuesday afternoon press conference, and it looks like the ’Hoos are close to getting some key pieces back in action.
Center Brady Wilson “is working himself back into practice,” Elliott said. “So, [I’m] optimistic that he’ll be available here soon.”
Elliott also had positive news at tackle, saying, “McKale [Boley] is fine … He’s back in practice and doing well.”
Wilson had missed Virginia’s past two games due to a calf strain, forcing starting guard Drake Metcalf to slide over to fill the center spot. And Boley was banged up in the first half of Virginia’s win over Louisville, forcing true sophomore Ben York into action to protect quarterback Chandler Morris’s blind side.
With Wilson and Boley each seemingly on track to return to action soon, Virginia’s offensive line is just about as close to full strength as it’s been all season. But even as its depth has been put to the test, the offensive line unit has been a strength for the ’Hoos — Virginia has allowed just five sacks on the year, and its 1.0 sacks allowed per game against FBS opponents is second-best in the ACC and tied for 15th-best in the nation.
