Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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cavalier sports " More than anything, [Brennan] Armstrong's decision to return for his fifth year is a sign of buy-in to the culture [head coach Tony] Elliott is trying to build. The senior quarterback is still the face of this pro- gram so his commitment to what Elliott is do- ing should bring with it similar decisions from players considering going elsewhere." — Zach Carey of StreakingTheLawn.com on quarterback Brennan Armstrong's decision to bypass the NFL Draft and return to UVA for one more season " I was ready to go play for him. Just the little things that are obviously important to him, they go a long way. He stood up there, shook everybody's hand, told us how important it was going to be to have our involvement and sup- port, and I believe him. "I've had a few coaches and former players hit me up talking him up, Clemson guys and guys that I respect. In football … I don't have to know Tony Elliott. If I know a guy and trust a guy that trusts him and knows him and loves him, that's good enough for me. That's how important your reputation is in football, and he's got a great reputation." — Former Virginia All-American defensive end Chris Long on new football head coach Tony Elliott 34th Was the ranking for Virginia quarterback BRENNAN ARMSTRONG in the "PFF College 101: The 101 best players in col- lege football in 2021." The only signal-callers listed ahead of him were Alabama's Bryce Young (No. 1 overall), Pitt's Kenny Pickett (No. 3) and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud (No. 16). "Armstrong led one of the most explosive passing offenses of the 2021 season," PFF noted. "Despite un- orthodox mechanics, the Virginia Cavalier finished the season with the fourth-best PFF grade [91.8] among FBS quarterbacks. He recorded multiple big-time throws in all but two starts [finishing with one each in those two]." 1 Of six honorees for the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award this year is fourth-year Virginia women's basketball coach Tina Thomp- son. The prestigious award is bestowed on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of student-athletes' collegiate careers in recognition of their collegiate and profes- sional achievements, as well as their civic contributions. Thompson starred for the USC wom- en's basketball program — she ranks fifth in career points (2,248) and rebounds (1,168) — before becoming the first col- lege player ever drafted in the WNBA. She went on to be a four-time WNBA cham- pion with the Houston Comets and gar- nered nine WNBA All-Star appearances in her career. Also being honored this year will be Maiya Anderson (Air Force), Tim Duncan (Wake Forest), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Matthew Humphreys (UC Santa Cruz) and Katie King-Crowley (Brown). 19 Cavaliers have been selected in the 10-year history of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft. The latest to be taken was third-year forward Diana Ordoñez, who was the sixth overall pick by the North Carolina Courage in the 2022 draft. She became the fourth Cavalier to be selected in the first round, joining Morgan Brian (first overall to Houston in 2015), Emily Sonnett (first to Portland in 2016) and Courtney Petersen (seventh to Orlando in 2020). Virginia has had at least one player selected in every NWSL Draft. No. 7 National ranking by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for both the men's and women's Virginia tennis teams heading into the 2022 season. It marked the fifth time in program history the women started the year ranked in the top 10, while the men return all but one of their starters from last season's ACC regular- season and tournament championship team. 5 Former Cavaliers were among the 84 ACC players that were on the active rosters for the 14 NFL playoff teams this year. Clemson led the way with 18 players repre- sented, followed by Miami with 12, and Florida State, Pitt and Wake Forest with nine each. The five UVA representatives were Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Maurice Canady, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Bryce Perkins, and Philadelphia Eagles safeties Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod. In addition, there were four former Cavaliers on practice squads for NFL playoff teams — Buffalo Bills cornerback Tim Harris, New England Patriots linebacker LaRoy Reynolds, Green Bay Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert, and Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Eric Smith — and one on injured reserve (Dallas Cowboys defensive end Brent Urban). FEBRUARY 2022 9 Photo by Matt Riley