99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff

Virginia football season is closing in fast.
Jordan Ellis earned the No. 1 jersey pick for the third straight year. ~ Mike Ingalls

Since Bronco Mendenhall took over the reins, the Virginia football program spends spring practice and a portion of the preseason without numbers on its jerseys. The message behind the blank uniforms: everything is earned, not given in the program. Even numbers.

This is not an unheard of tactic and it isn’t exclusive to UVA. Willie Taggart made players at Oregon earn single digit jersey numbers and then carried the concept to his new job at Florida State this offseason. Matt Rhule hands out single digit jersey numbers at Baylor. At LSU, the No. 7 is given to the team’s best playmaker. Dan Mullen has withheld the No. 1 jersey at Florida.

The Cavaliers have adopted the ‘earn your number’ mantra and the spirit behind it. Defensive back Bryce Hall told CBS 19 Charlottesville that “”I believe when they get that number, it means a lot more than just coming in and asking a coach, ‘Okay, I want this number.’ You actually have to battle, put blood, sweat and tears just to get that number. So it means a lot more.”

The “99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series continues.

No. 22 – Numbers Begin To Fill In

According to this report from Jeff White at VirginiaSports.com, 41 players earned jerseys in the first round of selections this past weekend. Two more rounds of picks are expected to take place this Saturday (8/18) and the following Saturday (8/25). This is the earliest in Mendenhall’s three seasons that the first round of selections occurred this early in preseason camp. White reports that the first numbers in 2016 weren’t handed out until Aug. 27, while the first numbers in 2017 went out on Aug. 18.

White also noted that the first pick once again went to Jordan Ellis, who has selected first in each of Mendenhall’s three seasons. He will wear No. 1 again this season. The rest of the top 10 and their jersey selections: Juan Thornhill (21), PK Kier (6 – new), Bryce Perkins (3), Richard Burney (16), Jordan Mack (37), Olamide Zaccheaus (4), Joe Reed (2), Jamari Peacock (10 – new), and Chris Moore (7 – new). White indicated that the selection order is determined by a panel of 20 players on the team.

There aren’t too many surprises among that group of 10. As noted, Ellis has been the top pick in three straight years. Thornhill and Zaccheaus are senior leaders and playmakers on this team. Mack joined former defensive stalwarts Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding with 100+ tackles last season. Perkins received rave reviews from teammates and coaches alike for his work on and off the field in the offseason so despite being a transfer, he’s earned respect within the program. Reed has starred on special teams and is expected to make a big step up offensively.

The biggest surprises in the top 10, if you can label it that way, are sophomores Kier and Peacock along with Burney and Moore. The two sophomore running backs both played as true freshman and are expected to have bigger roles in year two. Kier, in fact, is likely going to be the No. 2 back behind Ellis.

Burney switched positions right before the bowl game, going from tight end to defensive end. He added weight this offseason and really attacked the position switch. Moore is a key member of the defense that fills a hybrid linebacker-safety role, but he has not been a full-time starter and not a senior so to see his name up there with Thornhill and Mack is a good sign for the D.

Other players that already selected numbers include sixth-year seniors Tim Harris (5) and Malcolm Cook (17), who both elected to return for an additional season thanks to medical hardship waivers. Members of “The Dirty Dozen” group from the offseason strength and conditioning challenge all selected jersey too. In addition to Ellis, Thornhill, Perkins, Zaccheaus, Mack, Burney, and Cook, the quintet of Chris Peace (13), Zane Zandier (33), Eli Hanback (58), Mandy Alonso (91), and Marcus Applefield (71) each selected numbers as well.

Nearly every senior on the roster picked a number during the first round. Beyond the players already mentioned, Ben Hogg (18), C.J. Stalker (40), Evan Butts (46), Lester Coleman (47), Jake Fieler (77), and Joe Spaziani (99 – new) each took numbers as well. Other juniors that already received numbers include Hasise Dubois (8), Dominic Sheppard (9 – new), Chris Sharp (31), Hall (34), Tanner Cowley (44), and R.J. Proctor (78).

In addition to Kier and Peacock in the top 10, a list of sophomores also added numbers to their jerseys. Those players are Charles Snowden (11 – new), De’Vante Cross (15), Nick Grant (20), Lamont Atkins (25), Brenton Nelson (28), Joey Blount (29), Darrius Bratton (32), Matt Gahm (56), Chris Glaser (69), Dillon Reinkensmeyer (79), and Terrell Jana (84). Only one freshman, offensive tackle Ryan Nelson (54), has picked a number.

The jersey selection process does not lead to much number shuffling – only six returning players among the 41 to get jersey numbers so far made a change. That seems to indicate that the number itself isn’t what’s being earned as much as the right to make the selection. Even though they have to officially re-earn those numbers during camp, players appeared in promotional situations this offseason in numbered jerseys, for example.

There are some noteworthy names that have yet to pick a number. Spaziani and Coleman are the only specialists to select so far. Last season’s starting field goal kicker A.J. Mejia, kickoff specialist Brian Delaney, and holder Nash Griffin have yet to pick. Potential back-up quarterbacks Lindell Stone and Brennan Armstrong remain free of numbers to date. Ben Knutson, Ben Trent, and Tyler Fanning, all offensive linemen that might make the two deep, have not selected. Defensive linemen without numbers to date that likely will see snaps this season include Cassius Peat, Tommy Christ, and Isaac Buell.

That doesn’t account for any freshmen at this point either.

The “99 Virginia Football Thoughts Before Kickoff” series has discussed much more. The previous articles are below. Click away.