Donte Wilkins figured to be a key defensive lineman for the Virginia football team this season regardless of who was selected as the new head coach. When the Cavaliers hired Bronco Mendenhall, however, the senior’s role grew instantly. Mendenhall’s base defense is a 3-4 alignment and it requires a big presence in the middle of the line at nose tackle.

Wilkins embraced the coaching change and the challenge that comes with the new demands at nose.

”I love it. At first I was coming in and I was like ‘How am I going to play this?” Wilkins said. ”From the first day of spring practice until now and it was like I’m going to attack it. I feel like I’ve done a great job at whatever Coach Mendenhall has asked me to do and just playing the position to the best of my ability. So far, it’s been good. I plan on taking my game to the next level.”

Ruffin McNeill, UVA’s assistant head coach and the defensive line position coach, described the nose tackle role “like a spear,” meaning the point of the attack on defense is right there in the middle. The D needs that player to control the front, draw blocks, and make plays. That player must have some size and strength too. Wilkins does at 6’1” and 300 pounds.

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