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18 CAVALIER CORNER BY BRAD FRANKLIN T HROUGHOUT THE landscape of college sports, graduate transfers have become a seem- ingly new way of life. For many teams, particularly those going through coaching changes and roster turnover, the chance to bring in experienced players who have earned their degrees is huge. The way they can fill gaps in succession is invaluable. And for the student-athletes, the chance to start over elsewhere for their final year of eligibility offers them a clean slate. Following the 2016 season, UVA needed help on its offensive line. And in transfers John Montelus (Notre Dame) and Brandon Pertile (Oklahoma State), that's precisely what the Cavaliers found. "It's nice to have players come to your program that are needed, which they both were, and immediately started, which was great," head coach Bronco Mendenhall said of Montelus and Pertile. "That means they picked the right school and we selected the right young men. That is ideal for a player that's coming as a grad transfer, that they can contribute." Montelus, a 6-3, 325-pound guard, was a four-star recruit out of Everett (Mass.) High. He spent the 2013-16 seasons in South Bend, appearing in six games on both sides of the ball. Pertile, meanwhile, is a 6-5, 320-pound tackle who, after starring at Clearwater (Fla.) Countryside High, began his college career at Georgia State before transferring to Mesa Community College in Arizona for the 2014 season and ultimately landing in Stillwater, Okla., for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. In both cases, the decision this past spring to transfer to Virginia for their final season was something they each call the best one they've ever made. "I cannot imagine doing it any differ- ently," Pertile said. "I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and to be a part of this program. It's been precisely what I wanted it to be." "If I could do it again, I wouldn't change anything at all," Montelus added. "I think it's got to be one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life." For Mendenhall and the Cavaliers, the addition of two graduate transfers (a third, Collin McGovern from Notre Dame, de- cided to give up the game) bolstered a thin offensive line that would have otherwise had to rely on a number of first-years. Instead, Montelus and Pertile had combined for 19 starts and both played in every game except for Pertile missing the final tilt. "They really like and have had a positive experience being in our program and being treated the way they have been," Menden- hall said. "I think it's been a rebirth or re- energizing experience for them. "I think our other team members see how fortunate they feel and I think that kind of boosts them a little bit and helps them feel luckier to be here." "The biggest thing for me has just been coming in and doing everything I can do to help other guys get better and be there for them," Pertile explained. "It's been incred- ibly rewarding to spend my last year here at Virginia and to have the sort of impact I've had on and off the field. And knowing that we're going to a bowl game, it's even better. "It's the best decision I've ever made, to transfer to Virginia. Obviously, John and I know what it takes to get to this level and to see the hard work so many guys have put in LEADING THE WAY Graduate Transfers Brandon Pertile And John Montelus Provide Stability Up Front Pertile started the first 10 regular-season games this year at right tackle. PHOTO BY PETE EMERSON/COURTESY UVA