Editor’s note: This story contains details of a mass casualty event and gun violence.
The shooting death of three Virginia football players on Nov. 13, 2022 in Charlottesville shocked the nation, shattered a tight-knit college town, and led to the cancellation of the remainder of the Cavaliers’ 2022 football season.
However, Virginia returned to play in 2023 with a living monument to the tragedy in its backfield: running back Mike Hollins, who was wounded in the shooting.
Hollins rushed for 274 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games as coach Tony Elliott’s team went 3–9. The Cavaliers played out their schedule while continuing to honor fallen wide receiver Devin Chandler, wide receiver Lavel Davis, and linebacker D'Sean Perry.
Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday, the Orange Bowl and Football Writers Association of America gave Hollins their annual award for “displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship.”
“It meant a lot to me,” Hollins said in an Orange Bowl release. “I feel like all season it meant a little bit more to me than it did for everyone else. And it wasn’t really the wins or losses that really mattered. It was the effort and knowing what you were playing for.”
Notable past winners of the 22-year-old award have included Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand and Pittsburgh running back James Conner.
