Round 3 of UVA jersey selections is complete; 21 more Hoos earn numbers
Virginia conducted its third round of jersey number selections late Saturday night, bringing the total tally of players with a jersey number to 75.
On Saturday evening, 21 more Cavaliers chose what digits they’ll be sporting in 2020 — Donovan Johnson (34), Darren Klein (37), Elijah Gaines (38), Fentrell Cypress (39), DaJuan Moore (42), Nusi Malani (45), Andrew Yavinsky (46), Hunter Stewart (53), Danny Caracciolo (59), Tyler Fannin (63), Jack Keenan (64), Derek Devine (67), Gerrik Vollmer (74), Jordan Redmond (76), Jalen Harrison (80), Lavel Davis Jr. (81), Demick Starling (82), Josh Clifford (83), Joshua Rawlings (89), Jahmeer Carter (90) and Adeeb Atariwa (95).
Bronco Mendenhall started the tradition at UVA his first season in Charlottesville back in 2016, when he required players to earn their jerseys and their numbers.
He liked the process so much that he’s kept it going every season, a process where your number is earned, not given.
“It was an amazing night,” Mendenhall said of that very first round of number selections five years ago. “I would say one of the most memorable of my coaching career to this point. Really, really special.”
The team votes on who gets first pick and that player can choose any number he likes, then works sequentially down.
Here’s a complete list of the Hoos that have earned a jersey number:
0 — Zane Zandier, LB
1 — Nick Grant, CB
2 — Nash Griffin, P
3 — Dontayvion Wicks, WR
4 — Billy Kemp IV, WR
5 — Brennan Armstrong, QB
7 — Noah Taylor, LB
8 — Darrius Bratton, CB
9 — Coen King, DB
10 — Perris Jones, RB
11 — Charles Snowden, LB
14 — Antonio Clary, DB
15 — De’Vante Cross, FS
16 — Richard Burney, DE
17 — Ra’Shaun Henry, WR
18 — Hayden Mitchell, WR
20 — Ronnie Walker Jr., RB
21 — Wayne Taulapapa, RB
22 — Rob Snyder, LB
23 — Heskin Smith, CB
25 — Joseph White, DB
27 — Jaylon Baker, CB
28 — Brenton Nelson, FS
29 — Joey Blount, FS
30 — D’Angelo Amos, DB
31 — Shane Simpson, RB
33 — Darnell Pratt, DB
34 — Donovan Johnson, DB
36 — Lindell Stone, QB
37 — Darren Klein, S
38 — Elijah Gaines, DB
42 — DaJuan Moore, LB
43 — Elliott Brown, LB
44 — Dre Bryant, LB
45 — Nusi Malani, DL
46 — Andrew Yavinsky, DL
50 — Tommy Christ, OT
51 — Alex Gellerstedt, OT
52 — Joe Bissinger, OG
53 — Hunter Stewart, LB
54 — Ryan Nelson, OT
56 — Matt Gahm, LB
59 — Danny Caracciolo, LS
63 — Tyler Fannin, C
64 — Jack Keenan, OT
65 — Jonathan Leech, OT
67 — Derek Devine, OT
69 — Chris Glaser, OG
70 — Bobby Haskins, OT
72 — Ryan Swoboda, OT
74 — Gerrik Vollmer, OG
76 — Jordan Redmond, NT
79 — Dillon Reinkensmeyer, OT
80 — Jalen Harrison, WR
81 — Lavel Davis Jr., WR
82 — Demick Starling, WR*
83 — Josh Clifford, WR
84 — Ugo Obasi, WR
85 — Grant Misch, TE
87 — Tony Poljan, TE
88 — Tavares Kelly Jr., WR
89 — Joshua Rawlings, TE
90 — Jahmeer Carter, DL
91 — Mandy Alonso, DE
95 — Adeeb Atariwa, DL
98 — Ira Armstead, QB
99 — Keytaon Thompson, QB
* — 82 was originally chosen by sophomore WR Brandon White, who announced Saturday that he is entering the transfer portal