The Virginia football team rattled off 9 wins and captured the ACC Coastal Division title for the first time last season. The Cavaliers defeated Pittsburgh, William & Mary, Florida State, Old Dominion, Duke, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Liberty, and Virginia Tech to earn a spot in the Orange Bowl.

Fans easily can list off standout players and big plays from the season. Bryce Perkins, Hasise Dubois, Joe Reed, Eli Hanback, Charles Snowden, and Joey Blount to name a few. A goal line stand and Perkins’ Houdini act against Florida State, three straight sacks to help secure the win against the Hokies, and a ridiculous catch in the back of the end zone in the bowl game are some examples too.

Special teams provided some highlights too, especially the sight of Reed streaking through the defense for touchdowns on kickoff returns yet again. He became the first Cavalier to return a kick for a touchdown in three separate seasons. That included a 100-yarder against William & Mary.

Besides Reed, punter Nash Griffin, kicker Brian Delaney, punt returner Billy Kemp, and maybe Bryce Hall, who saw his UVA career end on special teams leading to much fan debate, however, it’s hard for fans to pick out specific players on special teams. There’s so many players in so many different positions and each group goes out there for one play before it all reshuffles again. That’s just a lot to keep track of in the moment, particularly if the play fits the routine expectations like a touchback on a kickoff or a made extra point.

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