Since 2018, a lot has changed with the Virginia football program. The Hoos won a bowl game for the first time since 2005. They won the ACC Coastal Division. The rivalry streak against Virginia Tech ended. And so on. Since 2018, one thing has not changed with the Virginia football program. Ryan Nelson starts on the offensive line.

Heading into the 2021 season with a veteran group up front that includes six players with some starting experience, none have more than Nelson. He has started 37 straight games from 2018-2020 with two seasons spent mostly at left tackle and one season spent mostly at left guard. In those three seasons, 10 other players have started games alongside Nelson. He basically has three first names – Ryan, Nelson, and The Dean.

That’s the starting point for this “50 Thoughts Before Virginia Football Kickoff” article – “What Does Round 4 Look Like For Ryan Nelson At Virginia?”

As one of the most consistent starters and veteran presence on the team, Nelson obviously has earned a leadership voice for the Cavaliers. He said at the end of spring practice, however, that he isn’t alone on that front. That comes from everyone up front in his mind, which makes sense with so many recognizable players in the fold. Nelson said he expects the offensive line to use that to bring the whole team along. “Everyone leads,” Nelson said. “If you don’t have to worry about dragging someone behind you because everyone leading up front. With the offensive line, we can look at other position groups so we can get them to get going. So instead of us yelling at each other like ‘hey, let’s go,’ it’s the O-Line telling everyone else ‘alright, time to go.'”

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