The 2019 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by fourth-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at Scott Stadium. The team competed as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Coming off an 8–5 season in 2018, Virginia was considered the favorite to win the Coastal Division.[1] The Cavaliers began the season with four straight victories, but then lost three games in a four-game stretch to Notre Dame, Miami, and Louisville. The team rebounded with four straight victories to close out the regular season, including a win over rival and 24th-ranked Virginia Tech to secure Virginia's place in the ACC Championship Game. It was Virginia's first win over Virginia Tech since 2003, and it was the school's first appearance in the conference title game, concluding a seven-year stretch in which all seven members of the Coastal Division won the division. In the Championship Game, Virginia lost to Clemson, 62–17. The team received an invitation to the Orange Bowl to play Florida, where they lost 36–28, to end the season with a 9–5 record.
Virginia was led on offense by quarterback Bryce Perkins, who finished with 3,530 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, and was named second-team all-conference. Perkins also led the team in rushing, finishing with 769 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Wide receiver and return specialist Joe Reed was named first-team all-conference as an all-purpose back. On defense, the team's leading tackler and sacks leader was linebacker Zane Zandier.
Preseason
In the preseason ACC media poll, Virginia was predicted to win the Coastal Division, but received just one vote out of 173 to win the ACC Championship Game.[1]
Media poll (Coastal Division)
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
Virginia |
1003 (82)
|
2 |
Miami (FL) |
992 (55)
|
3 |
Virginia Tech |
827 (20)
|
4 |
Pittsburgh |
691 (8)
|
5 |
Duke |
566 (6)
|
6 |
North Carolina |
463 (1)
|
7 |
Georgia Tech |
302 (1)
|
Media poll (ACC Championship)
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Votes
|
1 |
Clemson |
170
|
2 |
Syracuse |
2
|
3 |
Virginia |
1
|
Regular season
Bronco Mendenhall became the first coach to bring both trophies to Charlottesville at the same time. The Jefferson-Eppes Trophy may remain in Cavalier hands until at least 2025, as FSU does not appear on the ACC schedules for Virginia through 2024.
As projected by the pre-season media, Virginia won the Coastal division for the first time despite an early season-ending injury to the team's highest NFL prospect, Bryce Hall, in the game against Miami.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
August 31 | 7:30 p.m. | at Pittsburgh | | | ACCN | W 30–14 | 47,144 |
| 8:00 p.m. | William & Mary* | | | ACCN | W 52–17 | 45,250 |
September 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida State | No. 25 | | ACCN | W 31–24 | 57,826 |
September 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Old Dominion* | No. 21 | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ESPN2 | W 28–17 | 44,573 |
September 28 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 10 Notre Dame* | No. 18 | | NBC | L 20–35 | 77,622 |
| 8:00 p.m. | at Miami (FL) | No. 20 | | ESPN | L 9–17 | 54,538 |
October 19 | 3:30 p.m. | Duke | | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ACCN | W 48–14 | 52,847 |
October 26 | 3:30 p.m. | at Louisville | | | ACCN | L 21–28 | 48,689 |
November 2 | 7:30 p.m. | at North Carolina | | | ACCN | W 38–31 | 50,500 |
November 9 | 12:30 p.m. | Georgia Tech | | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ACCRSN | W 33–28 | 44,596 |
November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | Liberty* | | - Scott Stadium
- Charlottesville, VA
| ACCRSN | W 55–27 | 37,329 |
| 12:00 p.m. | No. 24 Virginia Tech | | | ABC | W 39–30 | 52,619 |
December 7 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 3 Clemson | No. 23 | | ABC | L 17–62 | 66,810 |
| 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 9 Florida* | No. 24 | | ESPN | L 28–36 | 65,157 |
|
[2]
Personnel
Coaching staff
Staff as of 2019.[3][4]
Name |
Position
|
Bronco Mendenhall |
Head coach
|
Nick Howell |
Defensive coordinator, secondary coach
|
Kelly Poppinga |
Co defensive coordinator, Outside Linebackers coach
|
Shane Hunter |
Inside linebackers coach
|
Vic So'oto |
Defensive line
|
Robert Anae |
Offensive coordinator, inside receivers coach
|
Mark Atuaia |
Running backs coach
|
Jason Beck |
Quarterbacks coach
|
Marques Hagans |
Wide receivers coach
|
Garett Tujague |
Offensive line coach
|
Ricky Brumfield |
Special teams coordinator
|
Roster
2019 Virginia Cavaliers football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
WR
|
2
|
Joe Reed
|
Sr
|
QB
|
3
|
Bryce Perkins
|
Sr
|
TB
|
5
|
Lamont Atkins
|
Jr
|
TB
|
6
|
PK Kier
|
Jr
|
WR
|
8
|
Hasise Dubois
|
Sr
|
QB
|
10
|
Brennan Armstrong
|
Fr
|
WR
|
13
|
Terrell Jana
|
Jr
|
WR
|
18
|
Ben Hogg
|
Sr
|
WR
|
19
|
Chuck Davis
|
Jr
|
RB
|
20
|
Mike Hollins
|
Fr
|
TB
|
21
|
Wayne Taulapapa
|
So
|
FB
|
27
|
Jamari Peacock
|
Jr
|
TB
|
31
|
Chris Sharp
|
Sr
|
QB
|
36
|
Lindell Stone
|
So
|
RB
|
37
|
Perris Jones
|
Fr
|
QB
|
40
|
R. J. Harvey
|
Fr
|
TE
|
44
|
Tanner Cowley
|
Sr
|
TE
|
46
|
Christian Baumgardner
|
Jr
|
FB
|
46
|
Andrew Yavinsky
|
So
|
OT
|
50
|
Tommy Christ
|
So
|
WR
|
51
|
Jalen Harrison
|
Jr
|
G
|
52
|
Joe Bissinger
|
Fr
|
OT
|
54
|
Ryan Nelson
|
So
|
C
|
55
|
Olusegun Oluwatimi
|
So
|
WR
|
59
|
Andrew Spaziani
|
Jr
|
C
|
63
|
Tyler Fannin
|
So
|
G
|
64
|
Ben Trent
|
Jr
|
OT
|
65
|
Jonathan Leech
|
Fr
|
OT
|
67
|
Derek Devine
|
Fr
|
WR
|
68
|
Sean Moore
|
Fr
|
OT
|
69
|
Chris Glaser
|
Jr
|
OT
|
70
|
Bobby Haskins
|
So
|
OT
|
72
|
Ryan Swoboda
|
So
|
OT
|
75
|
Ja'Quay Hubbard
|
Fr
|
WR
|
77
|
Josh Clifford
|
Fr
|
G
|
79
|
Dillon Reinkensmeyer
|
Jr
|
HB
|
80
|
Billy Kemp IV
|
So
|
WR
|
82
|
Brandon White
|
Fr
|
WR
|
83
|
Hayden Mitchell
|
So
|
WR
|
84
|
Dorien Goddard
|
Fr
|
TE
|
85
|
Grant Misch
|
Fr
|
WR
|
86
|
Ugo Obasi
|
So
|
WR
|
87
|
Dontayvion Wicks
|
Fr
|
WR
|
88
|
Tavares Kelly Jr.
|
So
|
WR
|
89
|
Dejon Brissett
|
Sr
|
RB
|
96
|
Seneca Milledge
|
Fr
|
G
|
|
Kariem Al Soufi
|
Fr
|
WR
|
|
Nathaniel Beal III
|
Fr
|
G
|
|
Charlie Boxley
|
Fr
|
WR
|
|
Terrell Chatman
|
Sr
|
OT
|
|
Alex Gellerstedt
|
Fr
|
OT
|
|
Landry Gerbers
|
Fr
|
WR
|
|
John Izlar
|
Fr
|
OT
|
|
Jack Keenan
|
RFr
|
WR
|
|
Zack Kindel
|
Fr
|
TE
|
|
T. J. Kitts
|
So
|
TE
|
|
Mike Kosar
|
G
|
|
Micah Mariteragi
|
RFr
|
QB
|
|
Jared Rayman
|
Fr
|
G
|
|
Zachary Teter
|
Fr
|
C/G
|
|
Gerrik Vollmer
|
So
|
G
|
|
Martin Weisz
|
RFr
|
QB
|
|
Luke Wentz
|
Fr
|
RB
|
|
Justin Zollar
|
Sr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
CB
|
1
|
Nick Grant
|
Jr
|
ILB
|
4
|
Jordan Mack
|
Sr
|
FS
|
7
|
Chris Moore
|
Jr
|
DL
|
9
|
Samson Reed
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
11
|
Charles Snowden
|
Jr
|
OLB
|
14
|
Noah Taylor
|
So
|
FS
|
15
|
De'Vante Cross
|
Jr
|
DE
|
16
|
Richard Burney
|
Sr
|
OLB
|
17
|
Elliott Brown
|
Jr
|
ILB
|
22
|
Robert Snyder
|
Jr
|
CB
|
23
|
Heskin Smith
|
So
|
DB
|
25
|
Joseph White
|
Fr
|
FS
|
28
|
Brenton Nelson
|
Jr
|
FS
|
29
|
Joey Blount
|
Jr
|
DB
|
30
|
Antonio Clary
|
Fr
|
CB
|
30
|
Myles Robinson
|
Jr
|
CB
|
32
|
Darrius Bratton
|
Jr
|
ILB
|
33
|
Zane Zandier
|
Jr
|
CB
|
34
|
Bryce Hall
|
Sr
|
ILB
|
38
|
T. C. Harrison
|
Fr
|
CB
|
39
|
Jaylon Baker
|
Fr
|
CB
|
41
|
Germane Crowell
|
So
|
41
|
41
|
Darnell Pratt
|
So
|
ILB
|
42
|
Nick Jackson
|
Fr
|
ILB
|
45
|
Reed Kellam
|
Sr
|
OLB
|
47
|
Dre Bryant
|
Jr
|
DB
|
49
|
Coen King
|
Fr
|
DB
|
53
|
Fentrell Cypress II
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
56
|
Matt Gahm
|
Jr
|
OLB
|
57
|
Colin Dixon
|
So
|
DT
|
58
|
Eli Hanback
|
Sr
|
DB
|
60
|
Chayce Chalmers
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
66
|
Jairus Satiu
|
Fr
|
S
|
71
|
Darren Klein
|
Fr
|
DB
|
74
|
Jake Dewease
|
Fr
|
NT
|
76
|
Jordan Redmond
|
So
|
DB
|
90
|
Major Williams
|
Fr
|
DE
|
91
|
Mandy Alonso
|
Jr
|
DB
|
92
|
Tenyeh Dixon
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
93
|
Hunter Stewart
|
Fr
|
DT
|
94
|
Aaron Faumui
|
So
|
DE
|
95
|
Ben Smiley III
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
98
|
D'Sean Perry
|
Fr
|
DT
|
99
|
Jowon Briggs
|
So
|
ILB
|
|
Josh Ahern
|
Fr
|
DL
|
|
Isaac Buell
|
So
|
DB
|
|
Jude Carlon
|
Fr
|
CB
|
|
Mark Chichester
|
RFr
|
LB
|
|
Evan Clark
|
RFr
|
DE
|
|
Sam Galletta
|
Fr
|
ILB
|
|
DaJuan Moore
|
RFr
|
LB
|
|
Aidan Saunders
|
Fr
|
S
|
|
Vinnie Vladic
|
RFr
|
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
K
|
26
|
Brian Delaney
|
Jr
|
K
|
43
|
Justin Duenkel
|
Fr
|
LS
|
61
|
Enzo Anthony
|
Fr
|
LS
|
62
|
Lee Dudley
|
Fr
|
PK/P
|
81
|
Nash Griffin
|
Jr
|
PK
|
89
|
Hunter Pearson
|
Fr
|
PK
|
95
|
A. J. Mejia
|
Jr
|
P
|
|
Brendan Farrell
|
Fr
|
LS
|
|
Tucker Finkelston
|
Fr
|
|
- Head coach
- 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 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
- Jordan Arcement (Nicholls State)
Assistant director of player personnel
- Shawn Griswold (Utah State)
Director of football training & player development
- Matt Edwards (BYU)
Football analyst
- Kirk Garner (Virginia)
Graduate assistant
- C.J. Stalker (Virginia)
Graduate assistant
- Jackson Matteo (Virginia)
Graduate assistant
- Andrew Meyer (Wisconsin)
Graduate assistant
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: 2018-07-27
|
Depth chart
Defense [5]
|
|
|
SABRE
|
Brenton Nelson
|
Chris Moore
|
⋅
|
|
CB
|
Nick Grant
|
Jaylon Baker
|
⋅
|
|
|
DE
|
NT
|
DE
|
Eli Hanback
|
Jowon Briggs
|
Richard Burney
|
Mandy Alonso
|
Jordan Redmond
|
Aaron Faumui
|
⋅
|
⋅
|
Tommy Christ
|
|
|
|
Offense [5]
|
WR (X)
|
Terrell Jana
|
Terrell Chatman
|
Billy Kemp IV
|
|
|
|
TE
|
Tanner Cowley
|
Grant Misch
|
⋅
|
|
|
|
|
|
Key reserves
|
KO Brian Delaney
|
|
|
|
RB
|
Wayne Taulapapa
|
PK Kier
|
Lamont Atkins
|
|
Special teams
|
PK Brian Delaney
|
PK Justin Duenkel
|
P Nash Griffin
|
P Brian Delaney
|
KR Joe Reed KR Perris Jones
|
PR Chuck Davis PR Tavares Kelly Jr
|
LS Lee Dudley LS Enzo Anthony
|
H Nash Griffin
|
|
|
|
|
|
Game summaries
At Pittsburgh
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Cavaliers
|
10
|
3
|
10
|
7 |
30 |
Panthers
|
0
|
14
|
0
|
0 |
14 |
William & Mary
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Tribe
|
0
|
3
|
7
|
7 |
17 |
Cavaliers
|
21
|
14
|
7
|
10 |
52 |
Florida State
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Seminoles
|
0
|
14
|
3
|
7 |
24 |
No. 25 Cavaliers
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
21 |
31 |
Old Dominion
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Monarchs
|
10
|
7
|
0
|
0 |
17 |
No. 21 Cavaliers
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
14 |
28 |
At Notre Dame
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 18 Cavaliers
|
7
|
10
|
0
|
3 |
20 |
No. 10 Fighting Irish
|
14
|
0
|
14
|
7 |
35 |
At Miami (FL)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 20 Cavaliers
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
6 |
9 |
Hurricanes
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
10 |
17 |
Duke
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Blue Devils
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
14 |
Cavaliers
|
0
|
17
|
24
|
7 |
48 |
At Louisville
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Cavaliers
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
21 |
Cardinals
|
7
|
0
|
7
|
14 |
28 |
At North Carolina
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Cavaliers
|
7
|
10
|
21
|
0 |
38 |
Tar Heels
|
3
|
14
|
14
|
0 |
31 |
Georgia Tech
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Yellow Jackets
|
14
|
7
|
0
|
7 |
28 |
Cavaliers
|
14
|
10
|
0
|
9 |
33 |
Liberty
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Flames
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
6 |
27 |
Cavaliers
|
10
|
14
|
14
|
17 |
55 |
Virginia Tech
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 24 Hokies
|
3
|
3
|
21
|
3 |
30 |
Cavaliers
|
13
|
0
|
7
|
19 |
39 |
Clemson (ACC Championship game)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 23 Cavaliers
|
7
|
0
|
7
|
3 |
17 |
No. 3 Tigers
|
14
|
17
|
14
|
17 |
62 |
Vs. Florida (Orange Bowl)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 24 Cavaliers
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
14 |
28 |
No. 9 Gators
|
14
|
10
|
3
|
9 |
36 |
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 | 15 | Final |
---|
AP | RV | RV | 25 | 21 | 18 | 23 | 20 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 22 | RV | RV |
---|
Coaches | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 18 | 22 | 19 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | 22 | 25 | 25 |
---|
CFP | Not released | — | — | — | — | 23 | 24 | Not released |
---|
Players drafted into the NFL
References
- ^ a b "Clemson Favored to Continue ACC Football Championship Run". theACC.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
- ^ "Virginia Announces 2019 Football Schedule". VirginiaSports.com. University of Virginia Athletics. January 16, 2019.
- ^ "Mendenhall Adds Eight to Coaching Staff" (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ "Mendenhall Announces Defensive Coaching Switch" (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
- ^ a b "DEPTH CHART" (PDF) (Press release). Virginia Cavaliers. August 26, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 30, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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