Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Caroline Darney

The NFL honored three UVA football players as the first picks of the 2023 NFL Draft

In a touching moment before the 2023 NFL Draft officially got underway, the league honored the lives of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry by making them the night’s first picks. The trio of Virginia football players were killed in a shooting in Charlottesville last November, sending a ripple through the community and the world of college football.

MORE: UVA shooting survivor Mike Hollins gets first carry of spring football game

Virginia alums Melissa Stark and D’Brickashaw Ferguson took to the stage to pay tribute to the three young men. Ferguson talked about each player individually, remembering the legacies they left on and off the field.

Commissioner Roger Goodell welcomed the families of each player on stage before naming Chandler, Davis and Perry the first picks of a ceremonial draft. Each family was then presented with a jersey.

It was a beautiful moment to honor the lives and legacies of three men and their families and kick off the 2023 NFL Draft.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.