2017 Virginia Cavaliers football team

Virginia Cavaliers football
	2017 Virginia Cavaliers football
Military Bowl, L 7–49 vs. Navy
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
	Coastal Division
2017 record	6–7 (3–5 ACC)
Head coach	Bronco Mendenhall (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Robert Anae (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Nick Howell (2nd season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Scott Stadium; (Capacity: 61,500)
	Seasons ← 2016 2018 →

Template:2017 ACC football standings The 2017 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by second-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at Scott Stadium. They competed as members of the Coastal Division in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 6–7, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Coastal Division. They were invited to the Military Bowl where they lost to Navy.

Roster[]

2017 Virginia Cavaliers football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
C	`72`	Fannin, TylerTyler Fannin	1.0 !Fr
C	`77`	Fieler, JakeJake Fieler	5.0 !Jr
FB	`27`	Peacock, JamariJamari Peacock	1.0 !Fr
FB	`49`	Shifflett, AlecAlec Shifflett	7.0 !Sr
FB	`85`	Yavinsky, AndrewAndrew Yavinsky	1.0 !Fr
HB	`4`	Zaccheaus, OlamideOlamide Zaccheaus	5.0 !Jr
OG	`65`	Knutson, BenBen Knutson	2.0 !RFr
OG	`70`	Moss, StevenSteven Moss	5.0 !Jr
OG	`71`	McDonald, JackJack McDonald	7.0 !Sr
OG	`74`	Montelus, JohnJohn Montelus	7.0 !Sr
OG	`78`	Proctor, R.J.R.J. Proctor	3.0 !So
OL		Swoboda, RyanRyan Swoboda	1.0 !Fr
OL		Vollmer, GerrikGerrik Vollmer	1.0 !Fr
OT	`54`	Nelson, RyanRyan Nelson	1.0 !Fr
OT	`55`	Pertile, BrandonBrandon Pertile	7.0 !Sr
OT	`64`	Trent, BenBen Trent	2.0 !RFr
OT	`67`	English, JackJack English	7.0 !Sr
OT	`69`	Glaser, ChrisChris Glaser	1.0 !Fr
OT	`75`	Crutchfield, OsirisOsiris Crutchfield	2.0 !RFr
OT	`79`	Reinkensmeyer, DillonDillon Reinkensmeyer	2.0 !RFr
OT		Bischoff, RyanRyan Bischoff	3.0 !So
QB	`6`	Benkert, KurtKurt Benkert	7.0 !Sr
QB, LS	`11`	Spaziani, JoeJoe Spaziani	5.0 !Jr
QB, WR	`15`	Cross, De'VanteDe'Vante Cross	2.0 !RFr
QB	`36`	Stone, LindellLindell Stone	1.0 !Fr
QB		Hillerich, TristanTristan Hillerich	1.0 !Fr
QB		Kitts, T.J.T.J. Kitts	1.0 !Fr
QB		Merrick, MatthewMatthew Merrick	3.0 !So
RB	`88`	Zollar, JustinJustin Zollar	3.0 !So
TB	`1`	Ellis, JordanJordan Ellis	5.0 !Jr
TB	`22`	Hamm, DanielDaniel Hamm	7.0 !Sr
TB	`25`	Atkins, LamontLamont Atkins	1.0 !Fr
TB	`26`	Kier, PKPK Kier	1.0 !Fr
TB	`31`	Sharp, ChrisChris Sharp	3.0 !So
TE	`16`	Burney, RichardRichard Burney	3.0 !So
TE	`44`	Cowley, TannerTanner Cowley	3.0 !So
TE	`46`	Butts, EvanEvan Butts	5.0 !Jr
WR	`2`	Reed, JoeJoe Reed	3.0 !So
WR	`5`	Dowling, DoniDoni Dowling	7.0 !Sr
WR	`8`	Dubois, HasiseHasise Dubois	3.0 !So
WR	`14`	Levrone, AndreAndre Levrone	7.0 !Sr
WR	`18`	Hogg, BenBen Hogg	5.0 !Jr
WR	`19`	Davis, ChuckChuck Davis	2.0 !RFr
WR	`23`	Craft, WarrenWarren Craft	3.0 !So
WR	`80`	Smith, ShawnShawn Smith	1.0 !Fr
WR	`82`	Urie, BraedonBraedon Urie	5.0 !Jr
WR	`84`	Jana, TerrellTerrell Jana	1.0 !Fr
WR	`86`	Gardner, RossRoss Gardner	5.0 !Jr
WR		Blackman, ColeCole Blackman	3.0 !So
WR		Blundin, EthanEthan Blundin	2.0 !RFr
WR		Eilers, ShaneShane Eilers	1.0 !Fr
WR		Mitchell, HaydenHayden Mitchell	1.0 !Fr
WR		Pratt, DarnellDarnell Pratt	1.0 !Fr
WR		Zeno, DavionDavion Zeno	1.0 !Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
CB	`10`	Garner, KirkKirk Garner	7.0 !Sr
CB	`20`	Grant, NickNick Grant	2.0 !RFr
CB	`34`	Hall, BryceBryce Hall	3.0 !So
CB	`41`	Crowell, GermaneGermane Crowell	1.0 !Fr
CB		Burton, RiahRiah Burton	1.0 !Fr
CB		Latimore, DariousDarious Latimore	5.0 !Jr
CB		Harris, TimTim Harris Injured	7.0 !Sr
DB	`33`	Bratton, DarriusDarrius Bratton	1.0 !Fr
DB		Rolle, DonovanDonovan Rolle	1.0 !Fr
DE	`9`	Brown, AndrewAndrew Brown	7.0 !Sr
DE	`90`	Wright, StevenSteven Wright	3.0 !So
DE	`93`	Baumgardner, ChristianChristian Baumgardner	2.0 !RFr
DE		Brooks, ChristianChristian Brooks	2.0 !RFr
DL	`91`	Alonso, MandyMandy Alonso	1.0 !Fr
DL		Buell, IsaacIsaac Buell	1.0 !Fr
DL		Christ, TommyTommy Christ	1.0 !Fr
DL		Dixon, ColinColin Dixon	1.0 !Fr
DL	`98`	Kirven, JohnJohn Kirven	1.0 !Fr
DT	`57`	Trucilla, JamesJames Trucilla	3.0 !So
DT	`58`	Hanback, EliEli Hanback	3.0 !So
DT	`99`	Moye, JuwanJuwan Moye	3.0 !So
FS	`3`	Blanding, QuinQuin Blanding	7.0 !Sr
FS	`28`	Nelson, BrentonBrenton Nelson	2.0 !RFr
FS	`29`	Blount, JoeyJoey Blount	1.0 !Fr
ILB	`30`	Sheppard, DominicDominic Sheppard	3.0 !So
ILB	`37`	Mack, JordanJordan Mack	3.0 !So
ILB	`40`	Stalker, C.J.C.J. Stalker	5.0 !Jr
ILB	`42`	Simmons, JahvoniJahvoni Simmons	3.0 !So
ILB	`45`	Kellam, ReedReed Kellam	3.0 !So
ILB	`53`	Kiser, MicahMicah Kiser	7.0 !Sr
ILB		McDonald, MikeyMikey McDonald	5.0 !Jr
ILB		Pluchino, ChristianChristian Pluchino	1.0 !Fr
ILB		Snyder, RobertRobert Snyder	2.0 !RFr
LB	`33`	Zandier, ZaneZane Zandier	1.0 !Fr
LB	`38`	Snowden, CharlesCharles Snowden	1.0 !Fr
LB	`43`	Brown, ElliottElliott Brown	1.0 !Fr
LB	`56`	Gahm, MattMatt Gahm	1.0 !Fr
OLB	`13`	Peace, ChrisChris Peace	5.0 !Jr
OLB	`17`	Cook, MalcolmMalcolm Cook	5.0 !Jr
OLB, FS	`39`	Moore, ChrisChris Moore	3.0 !So
OLB		Bryant, DreDre Bryant	2.0 !RFr
OLB		Paul, GladimirGladimir Paul	3.0 !So
OLB		Turlington, HarrisonHarrison Turlington	1.0 !Fr
SS	`21`	Thornhill, JuanJuan Thornhill	5.0 !Jr
SS		Epps, CJCJ Epps	3.0 !So

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`89`	Delaney, BrianBrian Delaney	1.0 !Fr
K	`95`	Mejia, A.J.A.J. Mejia	1.0 !Fr
P	`47`	Coleman, LesterLester Coleman	5.0 !Jr
PK, P	`81`	Griffin, NashNash Griffin	2.0 !RFr
PK	`87`	King, AndrewAndrew King	5.0 !Jr

Head coach

Bronco Mendenhall (Template:College)

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Robert Anae (Template:College)
Offensive Coordinator, Inside Receivers
Marques Hagans (Template:College)
Wide Receivers
Mark Atuaia (Template:College)
Running Backs
Garett Tujague (Template:College)
Offensive Line
Jason Beck (Template:College)
Quarterbacks
Vic So'oto (Template:College)
Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Line
Nick Howell (Template:College)
Defensive Coordinator, Secondary
Kelly Poppinga (Template:College)
Special Teams Coordinator, Outside Linebackers
Shane Hunter (Template:College)
Inside Linebackers
Patrick Hickman (Template:College)
Director of Football Operations
Justin Anderson (Template:College)
Director of Player Personnel
Frank Wintrich (Template:College)
Director of Football Training & Player Development

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2017-09-09

Coaching changes[]

On June 21, 2017 Vic So'oto was hired as defensive line coach.^[2] So'oto replaces Ruffin McNeill who joined the University of Oklahoma coaching staff.

Depth chart[]

Defensive Starters

^[3]

FS
Quin Blanding
Joey Blount
⋅

WLB	BLB	MLB	SLB
Chris Peace	Jordan Mack	Micah Kiser	{{{LOLB_Starter}}}
Elliot Brown	C.J. Stalker	Zane Zandier	{{{LOLB_Backup}}}
⋅	⋅	⋅	⋅

SABRE
Brenton Nelson
Nick Grant
⋅

CB
Juan Thornhill
De'Vante Cross
⋅

DE	NT	DE
Juwan Moye	Eli Hanback	Andrew Brown
Steven Wright	James Trucilla	Christian Baumgardner
⋅	⋅	⋅

CB
Bryce Hall
Darrious Bratton
⋅

Offensive Starters

^[4]

WR (X)
Andrew Levrone
Terrell Jana
⋅

WR (Z)
Doni Dowling
De'Vante Cross
⋅

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Jack English	John Montelus	Dillon Reinkensmeyer	Jake Fieler	Brandon Pertile
Ryan Nelson	Ben Knutson	Jake Fieler	RJ Proctor	Chris Glaser
Osiris Crutchfield	⋅	Tyler Fannin	Jack McDonald	⋅

TE
Evan Butts
Richard Burney
Tanner Cowley

WR (Y)
Joe Reed
Hasise Dubois
⋅

QB
Kurt Benkert
Lindell Stone
⋅

Key Reserves
WR (H) Olamide Zaccheaus
BB Jordan Ellis
BB Jamari Peacock
KO Brian Delaney
KO Andrew King

RB
Daniel Hamm
Jordan Ellis
Chris Sharp

Special Teams
PK A.J. Mejia
PK Andrew King
P Lester Coleman
KR Daniel Hamm KR Joe Reed
PR Daniel Hamm PR Chuck Davis PR Juan Thornhill
LS Joe Spaziani LS Richard Burney
H Nash Griffin H Lester Coleman

Schedule[]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 2	3:30 p.m.	William & Mary*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCN Extra	W 28–10	38,828
September 9	3:30 p.m.	Indiana*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ESPNU	L 17–34	38,993
September 16	12:00 p.m.	UConn*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ESPN2	W 38–18	33,056
September 22	8:00 p.m.	at Boise State*	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	ESPN2	W 42–23	33,947
October 7	12:20 p.m.	Duke	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCN	W 28–21	38,638
October 14	3:30 p.m.	at North Carolina	Kenan Memorial Stadium Chapel Hill, NC (South's Oldest Rivalry)	ACCRSN	W 20–14	50,000
October 21	12:30 p.m.	Boston College	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCRSN	L 10–41	39,216
October 28	12:30 p.m.	at Pittsburgh	Heinz Field Pittsburgh, PA	ACCRSN	L 14–31	30,889
November 4	3:00 p.m.	Georgia Tech	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCRSN	W 40–36	38,448
November 11	3:30 p.m.	at Louisville	Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY	ESPNU	L 21–38	46,787
November 18	12:00 p.m.	at No. 2 Miami (FL)	Hard Rock Stadium Miami Gardens, FL	ABC	L 28–44	63,415
November 24	8:00 p.m.	No. 24 Virginia Tech	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (Commonwealth Cup)	ESPN	L 0–10	48,609
December 28	1:30 p.m.	at Navy*	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD (Military Bowl)	ESPN	L 7–49	35,921
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Source:^[5]

Game summaries[]

William & Mary[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Tribe	0	0	3	7	10
Cavaliers	7	7	7	7	28

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
28–6–1	2015	W 35–29

Indiana[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Hoosiers	0	17	10	7	34
Cavaliers	0	3	7	7	17

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
2–0	2011	W 34–31

UConn[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Huskies	0	0	6	12	18
Cavaliers	7	17	7	7	38

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–2	2016	L 10–13

at Boise State[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cavaliers	7	14	14	7	42
Broncos	7	7	0	9	23

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–1	2015	W 42–23

The Cavaliers came in as thirteen point underdogs against the Broncos and quickly went down 7–0 within the first three minutes. After this shaky start, the Cavaliers took a 21–14 lead into halftime led by success in the passing game on offense. To start the second half, the Cavaliers took just 3 plays to score, stretching the lead to 28–14. Virginia pressed its advantage to 42–14 before Boise State made it 42–23 on a late safety and touchdown. The win has been hailed as Virginia's "most impressive win" so far under Coach Mendenhall.^[6]

Duke[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Blue Devils	7	7	0	7	21
Cavaliers	7	7	7	7	28

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
35–33	2016	W 34–20

at North Carolina[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cavaliers	0	10	7	3	20
Tar Heels	0	0	14	0	14

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
54–63	2016	L 14–35

Boston College[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Eagles	17	7	10	7	41
Cavaliers	0	7	0	3	10

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
0–5	2010	L 13–17

at Pittsburgh[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cavaliers	0	7	0	7	14
Panthers	7	14	7	3	31

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
3–6	2016	L 31–45

Georgia Tech[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Yellow Jackets	7	7	14	8	36
Cavaliers	3	10	15	12	40

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
18–20–1	2016	L 17–31

at Louisville[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cavaliers	7	7	0	7	21
Cardinals	7	10	14	7	38

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
2–3	2016	L 25–32

at Miami (FL)[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cavaliers	14	7	7	0	28
No. 2 Hurricanes	7	7	17	13	44

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
6–8	2016	L 14–34

Virginia Tech[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
No. 24 Hokies	0	3	7	0	10
Cavaliers	0	0	0	0	0

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
37–56–5	2016	L 10–52

at Navy (Military Bowl)[]

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cavaliers	7	0	0	0	7
Midshipmen	14	14	14	7	49

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
11Template:Endash28	1994	W 47Template:Endash10

2018 NFL Draft[]

Player	Team	Round	Pick #	Position
Micah Kiser	Los Angeles Rams	5th	147	LB
Andrew Brown	Cincinnati Bengals	5th	158	DE

References[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 "DEPTH CHART - NORTH CAROLINA GAME" (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. October 9, 2017. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/va/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2017-18/depth_chart_event/depth_chart.pdf. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
↑ "Mendenhall Elevates Vic So’oto to Defensive Line Coach". Virginia Cavaliers. June 21, 2017. http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/062117aab.html. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
↑
↑
↑ 2017 Virginia Cavaliers football schedule. FBSchedules.com. Accessed April 15, 2017.
↑ Kragthorpe, Kurt (September 24, 2017). "Ex-BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall’s Boise breakthrough is a sign of how far Virginia has come in his second season". The Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2017/09/23/kragthorpe-ex-byu-coach-bronco-mendenhalls-boise-breakthrough-is-a-sign-of-how-far-virginia-has-come-in-his-second-season/. Retrieved September 25, 2017.

[depth_chart-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 "DEPTH CHART - NORTH CAROLINA GAME" (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. October 9, 2017. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/va/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2017-18/depth_chart_event/depth_chart.pdf. Retrieved October 9, 2017.

[2] "Mendenhall Elevates Vic So’oto to Defensive Line Coach". Virginia Cavaliers. June 21, 2017. http://www.virginiasports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/062117aab.html. Retrieved June 21, 2017.

[3] ↑

[4] ↑

[5] 2017 Virginia Cavaliers football schedule. FBSchedules.com. Accessed April 15, 2017.

[6] Kragthorpe, Kurt (September 24, 2017). "Ex-BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall’s Boise breakthrough is a sign of how far Virginia has come in his second season". The Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2017/09/23/kragthorpe-ex-byu-coach-bronco-mendenhalls-boise-breakthrough-is-a-sign-of-how-far-virginia-has-come-in-his-second-season/. Retrieved September 25, 2017.

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