Former University of Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins is finding success in the United Football League, attributing his perspective on challenges to his time with Virginia football. After facing numerous hurdles throughout his career, Perkins points to the support and character associated with the Cavaliers program as having a lasting impact.
Perkins currently plays for the Michigan Panthers in the UFL. He ranks among the league's top players in passing and rushing statistics, making him a candidate for the UFL's Most Valuable Player award.
Before his current professional opportunities, Bryce Perkins was a standout quarterback at Virginia from 2018 to 2019. He led the team to its first bowl win in over a decade and secured a victory against rival Virginia Tech for the first time in 15 years. His performance helped the program flourished during his tenure.
His path to college success included setbacks. Perkins transferred to Virginia from a community college after initially redshirting and then missing a season due to a fractured neck at Arizona State.
Following his college career, Perkins faced uncertainty heading into the 2020 NFL Draft. Few outlets had him pegged as a potential selection. The global pandemic further complicated the draft process, leading him to go undrafted.
His NFL opportunity came as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams. He spent time on the practice squad before appearing in a few games in 2022. However, his time with the team ended after that season.
Perkins reflected on this period, stating, "There's a lot of things that didn't go ‘right.’... \I had to\ be resilient through that to the draft... And then, you know, even not signing with an NFL team, \I had to\ be resilient."
He sees resilience and growth as consistent themes in his football journey. This perspective carried him from challenging college transitions to navigating the complexities of professional football.
The UFL represents a fresh opportunity. It is a startup professional spring football league created by partners including Dwayne Johnson and Fox Sports. While other attempts at a spring league have failed, the UFL has seen tons of UFL alumni make it to the NFL.
Perkins maintains a connection to Virginia, following the program and offering support. He commented on the team's current direction under Coach Tony Elliott.
