TOP PLAYERS
1. Second-Year Safety Quin Blanding — Name a preseason award watch list that a safety could reasonably be
named to and the 6-4, 215-pounder is on it. And with good reason — he was the ACC's Defensive Rookie of the Year
in 2014 after posting a team-high 123 tackles (second in the league, 12th nationally) on his way to a FWAA Freshman
All-America honor. It would be a massive surprise if the Virginia Beach, Va., native doesn't improve on his All-ACC
second-team nod from his first year.
Needless to say, the former five-star recruit made good on all the hype becoming the first true first-year to start
at safety for UVa since 1976 and breaking Ahmad Brooks' previous record for tackles by a rookie. This season, even
more will be asked of Blanding — if it's possible — while he becomes not only the central piece in the secondary,
but also a leader of the entire defense.
2. Fourth-Year Wide Receiver Canaan Severin — Though Blanding had the biggest season of any Cavalier in 2014,
Severin made the biggest gains this offseason of any returning player. The 6-2, 215-pound wideout led the team in
catches (42), receiving yards (528), and touchdown grabs (five) during this third-year campaign before being named
a team captain this past spring.
He caught a pass in all 12 games last season, which should set the table for what should be a big fourth-year season.
Severin had just six receptions in his career heading into last season, but is now poised to be one of the ACC's best.
Safety Quin Blanding led the team and set a rookie record with 123 tackles en route to Fresh-
man All-America accolades last season.
PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA
