CHARLOTTESVILLE 鈥 More than three hectic months of anticipation is finally at its end.
The pre-draft process is over.
鈥淚鈥檓 ready to figure out where I鈥檓 going to live,鈥 former Virginia safety and Charlottesville native Jonas Sanker told The Daily Progress, 鈥渁nd I鈥檓 ready to get rolling.鈥
He said he鈥檚 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鈥檚 met with all 32 NFL clubs since January.
People are also reading…
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.
Since then, he said, he鈥檚 made five visits 鈥 to the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders 鈥 for further discussion with those squads.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a pretty crazy ride,鈥 he said.
Sanker said through the feedback he鈥檚 received, most NFL talent-evaluators and decision-makers like that he's "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.鈥
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鈥檚 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鈥 following series.
鈥淏eing able to be versatile and find ways to impact the game in lots of different ways, that鈥檚 something that definitely stands out,鈥 Sanker said.
Over the course of his four seasons with the Cavaliers, Sanker played in 43 games with 33 starts.
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鈥檚 heard is he鈥檒l 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 ’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 to run and pass for at least 1,000 yards that season. He also had four interceptions that fall, while leading Covenant to consecutive eight-man football state championships.
鈥淪hoot, I haven鈥檛 done this so I don鈥檛 know,鈥 how it will feel to be drafted, Sanker said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檒l be excited and everyone around me will be excited, too.鈥
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 Bay Packers chose wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks in the 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely special,鈥 Sanker said of folks in town and at UVa waiting to hear his name called. 鈥淗opefully, it motivates other people to chase their dreams in what they鈥檙e trying to accomplish.鈥
