CAVALIER SPORTS
GETTING TO KNOW
FOURTH-YEAR DEFENSIVE
TACKLE DONTE WILKINS
Four th-year defensive tackle Donte Wilkins
could be a perfect fit for head coach Bronco Men-
denhall, who plans to go with a 3-4 front with
Wilkins slotted to play nose tackle.
Wilkins enters his final campaign having re-
corded 42 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack,
one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
"When you have a 3-4 defense, the nose tackle
is if not the most valuable player, certainly one of
the most valuable players on your team," Menden-
hall told TheSabre.com.
My advice to student-athletes is: To give ev-
erything you do your all, especially your school-
work. When it comes to your sport give it 100
percent. That's the only way you're going to get
better.
The primary challenge facing student-ath-
letes today is: Time management. Trying to get
everything done and finding that balance when
it comes to schoolwork, your personal life and
your sport.
The best thing about UVA is: The integrity of
the university. It's big on the honor system. It's a
big family, but we stick together and have each
other's backs. For example, I lost my wallet with
$75 in it and had it returned. Little things like that
or big things in the community mean a lot and
show how everybody comes together.
Why I chose UVA: I'm a big momma's boy. UVA
is only an hour and 45 minutes away from home.
I grew up with my mother and my siblings (three
brothers and one sister). It felt like it was a great
place to be. My mom said this was where I needed
to go.
Wilkins compiled 42 tackles in his first three
seasons and is considered a good fit for the
Cavaliers' new defensive scheme.
PHOTO BY PETE EMERSON/COURTESY UVA
