More than three hectic months of anticipation is finally at its end. The pre-draft process is over. “I’m ready to figure out where I’m going to live,” former Virginia safety and Charlottesville native Jonas Sanker told The Daily Progress, “and I’m ready to get rolling.” He said he’s eager to get started on his NFL career with whichever franchise selects him sometime over the next three days. The NFL Draft begins with the first round on Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay and runs through Saturday. Rounds 2 and 3 are Friday before the final four rounds on the last day of the event. Sanker, the two-time All-ACC first-team pick who led the Cavaliers in tackles during each of the past two falls, said he’s met with all 32 NFL clubs since January.
Virginia’s Jonas Sanker runs a fumble back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers’ win over Boston College at Scott Stadium. Late that month, he was in Mobile, Alabama, ahead of the Feb. 1 Senior Bowl. Sanker participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, too, in February and scouts came to see him work out at UVa for his pro day last month.
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Since then, he said, he’s made five visits — to the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders — for further discussion with those squads. “It’s been a pretty crazy ride,” he said. Sanker said through the feedback he’s received, most NFL talent-evaluators and decision-makers like that: “I’m able to play fast, play downhill and have good, explosive speed with getting in and out of breaks. And then, I was super productive [at UVa] on both defense and special teams.” That’s certainly true, and while with the Hoos, Sanker proved he could change the outcome of a game in an instant, like he did when UVa won at Pittsburgh this past November. Already facing a third-quarter deficit with the Panthers driving, Sanker’s precise timing on a third-down blitz allowed him to tackle Pitt running back Desmond Reid for a loss and force Pitt to settle for a field-goal try. He blocked the kick to keep the Cavaliers within six points and that sparked UVa to a comeback win. The Hoos scored on their next possession to go in front, and then Sanker intercepted a pass to end the Panthers’ following series.
Pittsburgh running back Desmond Reid, right, is taken down from behind by Virginia safety Jonas Sanker during the second half of Saturday’s game in Pittsburgh. “Being able to be versatile and find ways to impact the game in lots of different ways, that’s something that definitely stands out,” Sanker said. Over the course of his four seasons with the Cavaliers, Sanker played in 43 games and started 33 of those contests. He racked up 273 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles, 17 pass breakups and two interceptions. His 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Boston College last September helped UVa secure a win over the Eagles. Sanker was a four-time ACC Defensive Back of the Week honoree this past season. He said most of what he’s heard is he’ll be selected on Day 2. The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler ranks Sanker as the 97th best prospect in this draft. That would place a third-round grade on Sanker. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid projects Sanker to be picked in the third round. In Brugler’s mock draft, though, he has Sanker being picked in the fourth round and the same goes for
NFL.com ’s Chad Reuter. Sanker said dating back to his first few years of prep football at The Covenant School, he thought he had the potential to become an NFL player. He played quarterback, running back and safety there. In 2019 as a junior, he threw for 1,590 yards and 33 scores and rushed for 1,119 yards and 24 touchdowns while becoming the only player in Central Virginia that fall to both run and pass for at least 1,000 yards. He had four interceptions that season on defense, too, while leading Covenant to consecutive 8-man football state championships.
Covenant quarterback Jonas Sanker throws the ball for a two-point conversion during a 2019 game in Charlottesville. “Shoot, I haven’t done this so I don’t know,” how it will feel to be drafted, Sanker said. “But I’ll be excited and everyone around me will be excited, too.” If Sanker is picked, his selection will mark the seventh straight year in which a member of the Cavaliers is selected. Most recently, former Hoos wide receiver Malik Washington was picked in the sixth round by the Miami Dolphins last year. The Green Packers chose wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks in fifth round of the previous draft and tight end Jelani Woods was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The last Charlottesville native to be chosen was offensive lineman Kyle Long, who was picked by the Chicago Bears in the first round in 2013 out of Oregon. Others from Charlottesville have played in the NFL more recently like former James Madison offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie and wide receiver Rashard Davis, but they both made the league via undrafted free agency. “It’s definitely special,” Sanker said of folks in town and at UVa waiting to hear his name called. “Hopefully, it motivates other people to chase their dreams in what they’re trying to accomplish.”
