Jonas Sanker led Virginia with 107 tackles last season. ~ Photo by Kris Wright/TheSabre.com

As preseason honors roll in one after the other, it’s easy to forget just four years ago playing safety was somewhat foreign to Charlottesville native Jonas Sanker.

“In high school, I didn’t play that much [defensive back], so the transition has been great,” Sanker said at the start of fall camp for Virginia.

A star at The Covenant School just 10 or so minutes from Scott Stadium, Sanker dazzled the eight-man football scene as a quarterback, running back, and receiver. As a junior, his final season since COVID-19 wiped out his senior year, Sanker piled up 33 passing touchdowns and another 24 on the ground. He also saw time at defensive back, accounting for 4 interceptions, 42 tackles, and another 3 defensive touchdowns.

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