2018 Virginia Cavaliers football team

2018 Virginia Cavaliers football
Belk Bowl champion
Belk Bowl, W 28–0 vs. South Carolina
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal DivisionCo-def
Record	8–5 (4–4 ACC)
Head coach	Bronco Mendenhall (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Robert Anae (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Defensive coordinator	Nick Howell (3rd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Kelly Poppinga (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Scott Stadium
Uniform
Seasons ←  2017 2019  →

2018 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson x$#^		8	–	0					15	–	0
No. 15 Syracuse		6	–	2					10	–	3
NC State		5	–	3					9	–	4
Boston College		4	–	4					7	–	5
Wake Forest		3	–	5					7	–	6
Florida State		3	–	5					5	–	7
Louisville		0	–	8					2	–	10
Coastal Division
Pittsburgh x		6	–	2					7	–	7
Georgia Tech		5	–	3					7	–	6
Miami (FL)		4	–	4					7	–	6
Virginia		4	–	4					8	–	5
Virginia Tech		4	–	4					6	–	7
Duke		3	–	5					8	–	5
North Carolina		1	–	7					2	–	9
Championship: Clemson 42, Pittsburgh 10
# – College Football Playoff champion ^ – College Football Playoff participant $ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by third-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at Scott Stadium. They competed as a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Previous season

Virginia ended the 2017 season with a 6–7 overall record, 3–5 in the ACC, to finish in a tie for fourth place in the ACC Coastal Division. They were invited to the Military Bowl, where they were defeated by Navy.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award	Player	Position	Year
Chuck Bednarik Award [1]	Juan Thornhill	S	SR
Fred Biletnikoff Award [2]	Olamide Zaccheaus	RB	SR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy [3]	Juan Thornhill	S	SR
Paul Hornung Award [4]	Joe Reed	WR/KR	JR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award [5]	Bryce Perkins	QB	JR

ACC media poll

The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018.

Media poll (Coastal)
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Miami	998 (122)
2	Virginia Tech	838 (16)
3	Georgia Tech	654 (8)
4	Duke	607 (1)
5	Pittsburgh	420
6	North Carolina	370 (1)
7	Virginia	257

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	6:00 p.m.	Richmond *		Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCN Extra	W 42–13	40,524
September 8	7:30 p.m.	at Indiana *		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	BTN	L 16–20	35,492
September 15	4:15 p.m.	vs. Ohio *		Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN [a]	ESPN2	W 45–31	5,438
September 22	12:30 p.m.	Louisville		Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCRSN	W 27–3	34,446
September 29	12:20 p.m.	at NC State		Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC	Raycom	L 21–35	57,600
October 13	7:00 p.m.	No. 16 Miami (FL)		Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ESPN2	W 16–13	42,393
October 20	12:30 p.m.	at Duke		Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC	ACCRSN	W 28–14	20,277
October 27	12:20 p.m.	North Carolina		Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (South's Oldest Rivalry)	Raycom	W 31–21	43,000
November 2	7:30 p.m.	Pittsburgh	No. 25	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ESPN2	L 13–23	36,256
November 10	3:00 p.m.	Liberty *		Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ACCRSN	W 45–24	41,485
November 17	3:30 p.m.	at Georgia Tech		Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA	ACCRSN	L 27–30 OT	37,543
November 23	3:30 p.m.	at Virginia Tech		Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (Commonwealth Cup)	ABC	L 31–34 OT	60,776
December 29	12:00 p.m.	vs. South Carolina *		Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC (Belk Bowl)	ABC	W 28–0	48,263
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

1. Moved from Scott Stadium in anticipation of Hurricane Florence. ^[6]

Roster

2018 Virginia Cavaliers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class C 63 Tyler Fannin  Fr C, G 77 Jake Fieler Sr FB Dylan Crawford Fr FB 10 Jamari Peacock So FB 90 Andrew Yavinsky RFr HB 80 Billy Kemp Fr HB 4 Olamide Zaccheaus Sr G 65 Ben Knutson So G 78 R.J. Proctor Jr OL, LS Daniel Moore Fr OL 71 Marcus Applefield Sr OL Joe Bissinger Fr OL 67 Derek Devine Fr OL 70 Bobby Haskins Fr OL Jack Keenan Fr OL Micah Mariteragi Fr OL Victor Oluwatimi RFr OL 53 Gerrik Vollmer RFr OL 66 Martin Weisz Fr OT 54 Ryan Nelson RFr OT 64 Ben Trent So OT 69 Chris Glaser So OT 79 Dillon Reinkensmeyer So OT 72 Ryan Swoboda RFr OT 74 Ryan Bischoff Jr QB, LS 99 Joe Spaziani Sr QB 98 Brennan Armstrong Fr QB Tristan Hillerich RFr QB T.J. Kitts RFr QB DaJuan Moore Fr QB 3 Bryce Perkins Jr QB 36 Lindell Stone So RB 75 Webster Hill IV Fr RB Chris Jones Fr RB 92 Perris Jones Fr RB 88 Justin Zollar Jr TB 25 Lamont Atkins So TB 1 Jordan Ellis Sr TB 6 PK Kier So TB 31 Chris Sharp Jr TB Wayne Taulapapa Fr TE 46 Evan Butts Sr TE 44 Tanner Cowley Jr WR 85 Cole Blackman So WR 82 Riah Burton RFr WR 19 Chuck Davis So WR 8 Hasise Dubois Jr WR Shane Eilers RFr WR 86 Ross Gardner Sr WR 18 Ben Hogg Sr WR 84 Terrell Jana So WR 27 Tavares Kelly Fr WR Zain Khokhar Sr WR 83 Hayden Mitchell RFr WR 86 Ugo Obasi Fr WR Darnell Pratt RFr WR 2 Joe Reed Jr WR Wooby Theork-Youmans Fr WR Brandon White Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB Jaylon Baker Fr CB Mark Chichester Fr CB 41 Germane Crowell  RFr CB 20 Nick Grant So CB 34 Bryce Hall Jr CB 5 Tim Harris Sr CB 30 Myles Robinson Jr DB 32 Darrius Bratton So DB, WR Josh Clifford Fr DB, WR 15 De'Vante Cross So DB 14 Donovan Rolle RFr DB 23 Shawn Smith RFr DB 93 Joseph White Fr DE 16 Richard Burney  Jr DE 91 Mandy Alonso So DE 88 Osiris Crutchfield So DL 61 Isaac Buell RFr DL 50 Tommy Christ RFr DL 94 Aaron Faumui Fr DL 76 Jordan Redmond Fr DL 62 Samson Reed Fr DL Christian Smith Fr DL Trevor Storm Fr DL Dylan Thompson Fr DT 58 Eli Hanback Jr FS 28 Brenton Nelson So FS 29 Joey Blount So ILB Parker Chenault Fr ILB 17 Malcolm Cook  Sr ILB 45 Reed Kellam Jr ILB 37 Jordan Mack Jr ILB 55 Mikey McDonald Sr ILB 9 Dominic Sheppard  Jr ILB 22 Robert Snyder So ILB 40 C.J. Stalker Sr LB Evan Clark Fr LB 51 Javar Garrett Fr LB 57 T.C. Harrison Fr LB 52 Grant Misch Fr LB 33 Zane Zandier So OLB 43 Elliott Brown So OLB 59 Dre Bryant So OLB 60 Colin Dixon RFr OLB 56 Matt Gahm So OLB 38 Gladimir Paul Jr OLB 13 Chris Peace Sr OLB, FS 7 Chris Moore  Jr OLB 11 Charles Snowden So OLB 42 Noah Taylor Fr S Darren Klein Fr S 96 Cole Lytle Fr S Vinnie Vladic Fr SS 21 Juan Thornhill Sr SS 39 CJ Epps Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K Jack Collins Fr K 26 Brian Delaney So PK 95 A.J. Mejia So PK 89 Hunter Pearson Fr P 47 Lester Coleman Sr PK, P 81 Nash Griffin So PK, P Jerry Horng Fr LS Lee Dudley Fr LS Tucker Finkelston Fr	Head coach Bronco Mendenhall (Oregon State) Coordinators/assistant coaches Robert Anae (BYU) Offensive coordinator, inside receivers Marques Hagans (Virginia) Wide receivers Mark Atuaia (BYU) Running backs Garett Tujague (BYU) Offensive line Jason Beck (BYU) Quarterbacks Vic So'oto (BYU) Defensive line Nick Howell (Weber State) Defensive coordinator, secondary Kelly Poppinga (BYU) Co-defensive coordinator, outside linebackers Shane Hunter (BYU) Inside linebackers Rickey Brumfield (Utah State) Special teams coordinator Patrick Hickman (BYU) Director of football operations Justin Anderson (BYU) Director of player personnel Shawn Griswold (Utah State) Director of football training & player development Matt Edwards (BYU) Football analyst Krik Garner (Virginia) Graduate assistant Matt Johns (Virginia) Graduate assistant Jackson Matteo (Virginia) Graduate assistant Andrew Meyer (Wisconsin) Graduate assistant Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2018-07-27

Depth chart

Defense [7] FS Joey Blount De'Vante Cross ⋅ WLB BLB MLB SLB Chris Peace Malcolm Cook Jordan Mack Charles Snowden Matt Gahm Rob Snyder Zane Zandier Elliott Brown ⋅ C.J. Stalker ⋅ Noah Taylor SABRE Juan Thornhill Brenton Nelson ⋅ CB Tim Harris Darrius Bratton ⋅ DE NT DE Mandy Alonso Eli Hanback Aaron Faumui Aaron Faumui Jordan Redmond Tommy Christ ⋅ Dylan Thompson ⋅ CB Bryce Hall Nick Grant ⋅ Offense [7] WR (X) Joe Reed Ben Hogg Cole Blackman WR Olamide Zaccheaus Tavares Kelly Chuck Davis LT LG C RG RT Ryan Nelson R.J. Proctor Dillon Reinkensmeyer Jake Fieler Marcus Appliefield Bobby Haskins Chris Glaser Gerrik Vollmer Ben Knutson Ryan Swoboda ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ TE Evan Butts Tanner Cowley ⋅ WR (Y) Hasise Dubois Terrell Jana Ugo Obasi QB Bryce Perkins Brennan Armstrong Lindell Stone Key reserves KO Brian Delaney BB Jamari Peacock BB Chris Sharp RB Jordan Ellis PK Kier Lamont Atkins Special teams PK Brian Delaney PK Hunter Pearson P Lester Coleman KR Joe Reed KR PK Kier PR Chuck Davis PR Tavares Kelly LS Joe Spaziani H Nash Griffin

Game summaries

Richmond

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spiders	10	0	3	0	13
Cavaliers	14	14	7	7	42

See also: 2018 Richmond Spiders football team

At Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cavaliers	9	0	7	0	16
Hoosiers	13	7	0	0	20

See also: 2018 Indiana Hoosiers football team

vs Ohio

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bobcats	7	14	7	3	31
Cavaliers	21	17	0	7	45

See also: 2018 Ohio Bobcats football team

Louisville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	0	3	0	3
Cavaliers	0	6	7	14	27

See also: 2018 Louisville Cardinals football team

At NC State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cavaliers	7	0	7	7	21
Wolfpack	3	17	7	8	35

See also: 2018 NC State Wolfpack football team

Miami (FL)

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 16 Hurricanes	0	6	0	7	13
Cavaliers	0	13	0	3	16

See also: 2018 Miami Hurricanes football team

At Duke

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cavaliers	7	7	6	8	28
Blue Devils	0	0	7	7	14

See also: 2018 Duke Blue Devils football team

North Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tar Heels	7	7	0	7	21
Cavaliers	14	3	7	7	31

See also: 2018 North Carolina Tar Heels football team and South's Oldest Rivalry

Pittsburgh

	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	7	9	23
No. 23 Cavaliers	7	3	0	3	13

See also: 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Liberty

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	7	10	7	0	24
Cavaliers	14	10	14	7	45

See also: 2018 Liberty Flames football team

At Georgia Tech

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Cavaliers	14	7	0	6	0	27
Yellow Jackets	13	3	0	11	3	30

See also: 2018 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

At Virginia Tech

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Cavaliers	0	0	14	17	0	31
Hokies	0	14	3	14	3	34

See also: 2018 Virginia Tech Hokies football team and Virginia–Virginia Tech football rivalry

Vs. South Carolina (Belk Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamecocks	0	0	0	0	0
Cavaliers	7	7	7	7	28

See also: 2018 South Carolina Gamecocks football team and 2018 Belk Bowl

Rankings

Further information: 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	23	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	—	—	RV	—	—	RV	RV	22	—	RV	RV	—	—
CFP	Not released									25	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

2019 NFL draft

See also: 2019 NFL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL Club
2	63	Juan Thornhill	S	Kansas City Chiefs
6	198	Tim Harris	CB	San Francisco 49ers

References

1. "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
2. "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
3. "2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Preseason Watch List". July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
4. "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
5. "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
6. "Virginia Football vs. Ohio Moved to Nashville Due to Hurricane Florence" (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
7. "DEPTH CHART" (PDF) (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. August 27, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.