Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award

MIKE HOLLINS, RB – VIRGINIA

Virginia running back Mike Hollins is the 22nd annual recipient of the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Hollins survived the 2022 shootings that took the lives of three of his UVA teammates and played in 11 games this fall for the Cavaliers, leading the team in rushing touchdowns.

“It meant a lot to me,” Hollins said of playing this season. “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. If the effort wasn’t there, or if you didn’t know what you were playing for, I didn’t care if we won or if we lost. This year was just about will — showing your will, showing your will to compete, to win. Because it’s clearer than ever that football is so much bigger than us. Our impact is so much bigger and we just have a lot more to play for.

“So that was just on my mind all year, every day, and obviously I had a spotlight on me that I didn’t ask for. But through my faith I was able to carry it, through my teammates, I was able to carry it, and through those parents that lost their sons I was also able to carry it.”

On Nov. 13, 2022, Virginia players Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry were shot and killed after returning to school from a class field trip. Hollins was shot when he returned to the bus to try and help his teammates. Hollins recovered and returned to the UVA football program in the spring.

The Cavaliers canceled their final two games of the 2022 season. In the 2023 opener against Tennessee in Nashville, Hollins carried the team flag on to the field.

Six days later, on Sept. 8, the Virginia program gathered on the Grounds for a ceremonial tree planting and plaque dedication near the site of the shooting to honor Chandler, Davis Jr. and Perry. In the team’s home opener the next day — the program’s first game at Scott Stadium since the shootings — Hollins carried a “UVA Strong” flag on to the field, before rushing for two touchdowns.

The 5-foot-9, 204-pound Hollins led Virginia in carries (80) and rushing touchdowns (7) this season, amassing 274 yards on the ground. He added 10 catches for 34 yards and one touchdown.

“Mike displayed tremendous courage the night he returned to the bus to help his teammates and the other students on that field trip. That type of action speaks to who he is and his beliefs,” Virginia head coach Tony Elliott said. “But that’s courage in a flash. The road back to playing football this year took a different type of courage. He had to overcome physical and mental obstacles, he had to cope with the loss of his teammates and he had to perform knowing there were a lot of eyes on him. That was a remarkable accomplishment and I still marvel at how he did it, and more importantly, the way he did it.

“Mike was more deliberate as a leader for our team this season. It meant a lot for him to honor his fallen teammates by the way our team responded and carried itself this year and he guided us by example. I can’t say enough about how proud I am of Mike and how fortunate we are to have him as part of the Virginia program. He is a young man who will blaze an incredible path during his life. He has already started by making those around us better thanks to his inspiration.”

Hollins, a graduate student, tallied 1,045 career yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns. He had 205 career kick return yards, too.

The Baton Rouge, La., native never lost sight of the fact that this season was about much more than just football for him and his Virginia teammates.

“Every game, every week, every day, it was nonstop, because I was carrying something that no one on the team, no one in the community of Charlottesville carried, and everyone knew that I was carrying it,” Hollins said. “And so eyes are on me inevitably, so there wasn’t a day that I could sort of relax, take the veil off or take the mask off for lack of better terms. I was always on ‘go.’

“I’m very hard on myself and I’m a perfectionist. So I wanted to do everything to the best of my ability and really lead those guys’ legacy the right way, and that took a toll on me as well because obviously we didn’t get the records we wanted this season, but I can live with that. It was just going out and just playing my hardest and knowing that I did all I can do at the end of the day, put my best foot forward and playing my hardest because that’s what I had to hang my hat on at the end of the day.”

The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. Hollins will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and recognized during the game.

Previous winners of the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award are the Oregon tight end Cam McCormick (2022), University of Utah football Team (2021), Arkansas State analyst Alex Charlton (2020), Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson (2019), SUNY Cortland linebacker Kyle Richard (2018), Wisconsin safety D’Cota Dixon (2017), Pitt running back James Conner (2016), Miami offensive lineman Hunter Knighton (2015), Duke offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (2014), San Jose State defensive lineman Anthony Larceval (2013), Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez (2012), Michigan State offensive lineman Arthur Ray Jr. (2011), Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand (2010), the University of Connecticut football team (2009), Tulsa’s Wilson Holloway (2008), Navy’s Zerbin Singleton (2007), Clemson’s Ray Ray McElrathbey (2006), the Tulane football team (2005), Memphis’ Haracio Colen (2004), San Jose State’s Neil Parry (2003) and Toledo’s William Bratton (2002).