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FEBRUARY 2021 21 For Cross, being able to finish a master's degree and better himself for the next level were key components to returning. "It is a great opportunity to finish my master's degree," Cross said. "To get to be a double Hoo at the age of 23 is special. A lot of people here have accomplished that, but looking at my family, not a lot of people accomplished such a feat of obtaining a master's degree, so that's just something I wanted to do and this gives me the opportu- nity to do that at a terrific institution. "I also talked with my family and my coaches, just trying to figure out what was the best decision for me to accomplish my academic goals and my football goals of playing at the next level." The duo of Cross and Grant has seen the ascension of the program under Mendenhall and are proud of their accomplishments, but admit it may not fully sink in until they have moved on from UVA. "It's still really early and I'm still in it, so it's really hard to see the scope of what we have done so far," Cross said. "It's some- thing I can reflect on later and be proud of." When Grant thinks about his time at UVA, it circles back to Mendenhall and what he laid out that very first season in 2016. "Everything he said back then, each year to today, is the truth," Grant said. "He will never steer us in the wrong direction and very rarely will you meet people like that. "The only other person in my life like that is my father, so I feel like everything Coach Mendenhall says is just truthful, honest and can only get you better as a person and as a player. It is very humbling to know that there's a leader in our program exactly like that who wants to do the best that he can to put us in the best situations at all times." Lastly, in 2020 UVA welcomed a myriad of graduate transfers to the program. Two opted to delay pursuits of professional foot- ball to hone their craft on Grounds for an- other season. Atariwa and Henry both joined UVA in 2020 after stellar Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) careers. Henry commit- ted in May after putting up huge receiving numbers at St. Francis (Pa.), while Atariwa made the decision in August when the fall FCS season was postponed to the spring, making the short journey to Charlottesville from JMU. "This program makes a lot of great men and a lot of great alumni come out of UVA, and that speaks so well of the Virginia pro- gram," Henry said. "I noticed early on the whole coaching staff was very friendly. My teammates welcomed me with open arms. I made a lot of friends and built some rela- tionships I know that will last a long time. "The environment, the community and the fans are why I wanted to come back. My mom was pretty stuck on the fact that I haven't finished my master's. We made an agreement to come back and finish it, as well as for me to just enjoy the process. The college experience never comes back after you leave and enter the NFL Draft." Atariwa pivoted quickly from JMU to UVA in August and reflected on his pretty quick transition as he made a decision. "When I looked at coming back, a few things stuck out," Atariwa said. "I'm en- joying the people here, I am enjoying the football here and I'm blessed with an op- portunity to continue my education — if given the opportunity, I'm going to continue this journey. "This was a decision that was better for my future based on my education because I want to finish a master's in engineering systems. I am still focused on the NFL after next fall and I've decided that a second FBS year, along with my previous time in FCS, wouldn't hurt my development to realize the dream of playing professional football." Eight unique stories, one common theme. These student-athletes are fully integrated into the very fabric of the program, forging ahead toward their last trip around the sun in Charlottesville. As they navigate to spring and summer, all avenues are pointing towards crisp fall Saturday afternoons on the gridiron and as the ink dries on their final Virginia chapter, they will forever remember they were part of the era that set "The Standard" for Cava- lier football. In December 2015, cornerback De'Vante Cross was the first recruit signed by head coach Bronco Mendenhall at UVA. After a redshirt year, he has played in 50 games. PHOTO COURTESY UVA Since arriving at UVA in 2016, cornerback Nick Grant has played in 48 games — starting the last 24 — for the Cavaliers. PHOTO COURTESY UVA