Taylor and Davis Jr. Earn ACC Player of the Week Honors

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –Virginia linebacker Noah Taylor has been named ACC Linebacker of the Week and Lavel Davis Jr. has been Named ACC Rookie of the Week for games played through Nov. 15. It is Taylor’s first career honor and Davis Jr.’s second Rookie accolade of the season.

Taylor (Silver Spring, Md.) came up with a huge defensive play early in the Cavaliers’ 31-17 victory against Louisville. The Cardinals drove to the Cavaliers’ 16-yard-line on their opening possession when Taylor picked off UL quarterback Malik Cunningham’s pass and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. It was the longest interception return by a linebacker in UVA program history. It was also the longest INT return in the ACC this season (tying for third longest in FBS this year). Taylor, who dropped into coverage frequently during the game, finished with five tackles. The Cavalier defense held UL below 20 points for just the second time this season. UVA came up with two fumbles in addition to Taylor’s INT and stopped Louisville on two fourth-down attempts.

Davis Jr. (Dorchester, S.C.) played in his first game since Oct. 17 (Wake Forest) and led the Cavaliers’ offense with four receptions for 74 yards (18.5 ypc.) and one score. Davis’ scoring reception came in the third quarter on a nine-yard toss to give UVA a 21-10 lead. All four of Davis’ catches resulted in first downs.