With the Thundering Herd, Bradshaw only had 462 yards and three touchdowns in his freshman season in 2004, but also totaled 187 yards receiving on 14 receptions for two touchdowns. He missed two games that season, the Georgia and Miami games, due to an ankle sprain sustained during a stellar fourth quarter performance at Ohio State. He also recorded nine punt returns for 108 yards and 15 kick returns for 322 yards as a freshman. Bradshaw rushed for a then career-high 145 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown run, in just eight first half carries against Western Michigan. His other signature performance of the season came against Kansas State University, when he took a screen pass 75-yards for a score.
In 2004, Bradshaw was dismissed from the football team at the University of Virginia after an incident with the law. He pleaded guilty to underage drinking and resisting arrest. After police attempted to break up a party, he fled the scene in an effort to avoid police. The results were two misdemeanor convictions and a probationary sentence. Bradshaw never played a down for the Virginia Cavaliers.