Friday night, another Cavalier was drafted to the NFL, joining an exclusive group including linebacker Micah Kiser and defensive end Chris Long.
As the 63rd overall pick, former Virginia strong safety Juan Thornhill was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Thornhill is the highest-picked Virginia football player since Ras-I Dowling was chosen 33rd overall by the New England Patriots in 2011.
After earning consistent playing time during his first three years in Charlottesville, Thornhill truly emerged as one of the top defensive backs in the country last season.
In 2018, Thornhill recorded six interceptions and 98 total tackles. The Virginia native was a core member of one of the best secondaries in the country last season, allowing just 183 passing yards per game.
In a deep defensive back class, Thornhill stands out for his physical tools, cover talent and versatility. Thornhill should be able to immediately contribute to Kansas City’s defense and offer the Chiefs an impact player who can play at multiple positions across the secondary.
Read More
Fast? Virginia basketball? ‘It's not the usual U.Va. basketball experience’
By Michael Liebermann | 16 hours agoThe tortoise has become the hare. Fast basketball? Some conqueror rewrote the source code.
After thrilling shootout, Virginia field hockey will play for the ACC Championship
By Eleanor Buchanan | 19 hours agoJunior back Mia Abello — Leemans’ fellow co-captain and First Team All-ACC honoree — had no trouble converting on the opportunity, sending Virginia to its tenth ACC Championship final appearance and first since 2022.
The authors, architects and ascendance of Virginia football
By Xander Tilock | Yesterday"If you look at where we were last year, this time, it's almost impossible to see how we could have gotten so far, so fast.”
