Hollins Named a Finalist for Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia running back Mike Hollins was named one of three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award. Now in its seventh year, the award recognizes exemplary leadership both on and off the field.

Hollins has been the recipient of the Capital One Orange Bowl FWAA Courage Award and the ACC’s Brian Piccolo award, annually given to the league’s most courageous football player.

2023 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Finalists
Tony Bradford, Jr., Texas Tech (Sr., DL)
Blake Corum, Michigan (Sr., RB)
Mike Hollins, Virginia (Sr., RB)

Hollins was a victim of the tragic shooting that took place at UVA in November of 2022 that took the lives of his teammates, Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry while returning from a school field trip. Hollins recovered from his gunshot wounds and made his first appearance back on the field in UVA’s 2023 spring game in April.

Hollins was voted one of five team captains of the 2023 team by his teammates at the conclusion of the season. He appeared in 11 of UVA’s 12 games and led the Cavaliers in rushing touchdowns with seven. He compiled 80 carries for 274 yards and added 10 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown reception. He turned in a three-touchdown performance in UVA’s 31-27 upset win over then-No. 10 North Carolina on Oct. 21. After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Hollins was voted by his teammates as one of five team captains. For his career, Hollins had 814 rushing yards, 34 receptions, 241 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns.

The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will be announced at an award ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on February 15, 2024 and will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.

The SCORE Foundation, founded in 2007, has positively impacted tens of thousands of children and families in Texas and Tennessee over the last 15 years. The foundation operates its nationally-recognized SCOREkeepers program, which places trained male mentors on staff to work with children at family violence shelters, at nine shelters in the three states. SCORE has also operated a summer camp for kids with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, a weekend food backpack program for disadvantaged children in North Texas, opened Jason Witten Learning Centers in five different Boys & Girls Clubs and opened the Jason and Michelle Witten Emergency Waiting Room at the Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, Tenn.