Wayne Taulapapa will play his final game inside Husky Stadium Saturday.
He’ll do so with a heavy heart.
On Sunday night, three of Taulapapa’s former teammates at the University of Virginia — junior wide receiver Lavel Davis Jr., junior linebacker D’Sean Perry and junior wide receiver Devin Chandler — were shot and killed while returning to campus from a class field trip. Junior running back Mike Hollins and another student were also shot; Hollins remains hospitalized.
The suspected shooter is former Virginia running back Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., who was arrested Monday. He faces three counts of second-degree murder, two counts of malicious wounding and additional gun-related charges. Virginia’s game against Coastal Carolina on Saturday has been canceled.
Taulapapa — a graduate student running back from Honolulu — transferred to UW this summer after spending the previous four seasons at Virginia. He was named a team captain for the Cavaliers in 2021 and earned the same honor at UW this season.
“Can’t put into words the physical and mental pain that comes with losing not just teammates, but brothers,” Taulapapa tweeted Monday. “You were never just football players, but rather examples of great and honorable young men. I’m with UVA families in prayer and support. Family, first, last, and always”.
The 24-year-old Taulapapa — whose college career was delayed two years by a church mission trip to Nicaragua — has made nine starts and leads the Huskies in rushing yards (546) and yards per carry (5.4) this season. He has added 199 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns as well.
In four previous seasons in Charlottesville, Va., the native Hawaiian compiled 1,192 rushing yards with 4.5 yards per carry and 20 touchdowns.
“Wayne has already been up to the offices today, and we all collectively put our arms around him,” UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Monday. “He’s hurting. He knew those kids well. It’s a tough time for him right now, but he’s hanging in there and he’s got a lot of strength to give, and I know he’ll give back to those families.”
Of course, the 5-foot-11, 207-pound Taulapapa — who, alongside sophomore Cameron Davis, has earned the bulk of UW’s running back reps — will have to contend with Colorado on Saturday.
And while Senior Day should be a celebration, Taulapapa will be playing with immense pain.
“No. 1, it’s just being where his feet are as much as he can be,” said UW running backs coach Lee Marks, when asked how Taulapapa can play through grief. “Not only does he feel like he has a responsibility to himself but also to our team here, while still providing as much support from a distance as he can for the families and for the team at Virginia.”
