LOOK: Juan Thornhill to wear special cleats to honor Devin Chandler, D'Sean Perry, and Lavel Davis, Jr
It’s been one of the darkest times in the University of Virginia’s football program’s history this week. Three of their players were tragically shot and killed. Two others were left wounded. It’s a tragedy that has shaken the UVA community to its core. It’s led to an outpouring of support from many different schools and coaches across the country. Virginia state colleges have decided to wear special decals this weekend.
On Wednesday evening, former Virginia star Juan Thornhill decided to honor the three players that were tragically killed in the shooting–Lavel Davis, Jr., Devin Chandler, and D’Sean Perry, by wearing some special cleats this weekend for the Kansas City Chiefs‘ game vs. the LA Chargers.
Thornhill is currently in his fourth year in the National Football League. He plays safety for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The cleats are orange and white, with the numbers of all three players on one side, 1, 15, and 41. The numbers are placed right in the middle of a Virginia “V”. Their first names are on the back part of the cleat. Then, he has a nice picture of each player’s jersey beside the Nike swoosh.
Virginia star running back Mike Hollins, who was one of the two people wounded in the shooting, underwent a second surgery for his injuries related to the shooting. He is expected to eventually make a full recovery, but it will take a long time, according to a statement the family released on Wednesday evening.
Hollins made it through the two surgeries this week successfully, which is great news. He was on a ventilator earlier in the week and could not speak, according to the family.
In response to the shooting, Virginia canceled its non-conference game against Coastal Carolina that was originally scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 19.
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Virginia head coach Tony Elliott had an emotional response to the shooting
Nobody ever expects to deal with a tragedy like what happened at Virginia. However, that’s exactly what Tony Elliott is going through.
“It feels like it’s a nightmare, to be honest with you, and I’m ready for somebody to pinch me and wake me up and say that this didn’t happen. It’s been a long, I don’t even know how long it’s been since it happened. The minutes can’t go by fast enough,” Tony Elliott said.
“My heart’s hurting right now for our university, our community, the team, the players, the families, the young men whose families have been impacted the most. That’s where my thoughts are at this time, trying to provide all the resources and support that I possibly can. I have to acknowledge the strength of our players and the staff at this time in coming together to work to process what has taken place. Just like many of you all and many of those that are very close to the situation, still in shock, trying to rationalize, but also, find encouragement and community with those that have come out in and also those internally who have banded together to try and figure out how we move forward after going through a situation like this.”
On3’s Daniel Morrison also contributed to this article.