Virginia football is actively targeting the top-ranked edge rusher in this spring’s transfer portal. A transfer from Florida International, is set to visit Virginia this week. Walls, who recorded five sacks in 2024 and ranked fifth in Conference USA, previously played at Bethune-Cookman before transferring to FIU last season. According to 247Sports, he is currently the No. 1 available edge rusher in the portal, as reported by Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports on April 23.
Eddie Walls III, listed as a linebacker on Florida International’s roster, originally played as a defensive lineman at Bethune-Cookman, where he spent the first three years of his college career. A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Walls redshirted his freshman season after playing three games, then emerged as a standout during his sophomore year in 2022 with 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and a blocked field goal in just eight games.
In his junior season, Walls had a breakout year, starting all 11 games for Bethune-Cookman and recording 45 tackles, 17 solo stops, 14.5 tackles for loss (totaling 48 yards), four sacks, five quarterback hurries, one fumble recovery, and another blocked field goal. After an impressive 2023 campaign, he entered the transfer portal and moved to Florida International, where he was named a Preseason All-Conference USA Fourth Team selection by Phil Steele.
At FIU, Walls played in 11 games, recording 30 total tackles, 15 solo, and adding five sacks, six tackles for loss, one pass defended, one forced fumble, and another blocked field goal. His best performance came against Jacksonville State, where he tallied two sacks for a total loss of 19 yards.
Now 6’4″ and 247 pounds, Walls entered the transfer portal on April 15 and has already visited Tulsa and Houston. Several other schools, including Miami, Baylor, SMU, Texas Tech, Cal, and Memphis, have shown interest, but Virginia appears to be a rising contender for his services. The Cavaliers are reportedly the next school to host Walls.
While Virginia’s front seven isn’t a pressing need with returnees like Jahmeer Carter, Jason Hammond, Anthony Britton, and Terrell Jones, and the addition of transfers such as Hunter Osborne and Mitchell Melton, Walls’ proven ability to rush the passer makes him an intriguing target. The Cavaliers have struggled with sack production in recent seasons, and adding a player like Walls, who has consistently been a disruptive force, would significantly boost their defense.
Virginia has already added three transfer commitments this spring: offensive lineman Wallace Unamba from New Mexico and Kentucky, running back Isaiah Augustave from Colorado, and cornerback Jordan Robinson from Cincinnati.
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