Lavel Davis Jr. Made A Debut Splash For Virginia – Now Comes The Hard Part

Virginia is 1-0.
Lavel Davis Jr. scored 2 touchdowns in his Virginia debut. ~ Photo courtesy Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics Media Relations

As debuts go, Lavel Davis Jr.’s first game with the Virginia football team was more of a cannonball than a simple splash.

Davis announced his arrival to the college ranks in a big way with 4 catches for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns on Saturday against Duke. Those weren’t garbage time touchdowns either. Both scoring plays came in the fourth quarter and helped the Cavaliers rally for a second half victory, 38-20.

Davis became the first player in program history to record 100+ receiving yards in his collegiate debut and Virginia data wonk Danny Neckel Tweeted that he’s one of only 14 players – and the only freshman – to have a game with 100+ receiving yards and 2 touchdowns this season. The performance lit up the message boards and social media. In turn, the freshman became a fast star for the UVA fan base.

With heightened recognition comes additional attention from fans and opponents alike. Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said that can be a test for a young player.

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