Jason Witten presents Mike Hollins with Collegiate Man of the Year Award

On the night of November 13, 2022, life forever changed for members of the Virginia football team after three of their teammates (Lavel Davis, Jr., Devin Chandler, and D’Sean Perry) were shot and killed shortly after they arrived back on campus from a school trip. Cavalier running back Mike Hollins heroically went back on the bus to alert others of the dangerous situation. In the process, he was shot in the back multiple times by the alleged shooter, Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr.

Hollins managed to survive the horrific attack, but had to undergo several surgeries at the University of Virginia Medical Center to repair the damage. The final two games of the Cavaliers’ 2022 football season were cancelled, and Hollins began his road to recovery. After four months, he managed to make a full recovery and play the full 2023 season for Virginia, including a three-touchdown performance in their biggest win of the year (on the road against UNC).

On Thursday night, Hollins won the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, given to the player who demonstrated an outstanding record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship. In the official press release, Witten praised Hollins for his remarkable bravery.

“I am excited and honored to present the seventh annual Collegiate Man of the Year to Mike Hollins,” Witten said. “He is a great leader and an inspiration to us all. He overcame last year’s terrible shooting while attempting to help his teammates, and then made a return to the field to become a true team leader. He is a perfect example of what a college student-athlete can be.”

Hollins was chosen as the recipient of the award among three finalists, including Texas Tech defensive lineman Tony Bradford, Jr. and Michigan running back Blake Corum. In winning the award, a $10,000 contribution will be made in Hollins’ name to Virginia’s athletic scholarship fund. That contribution will be made by Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the charity of Witten and his wife, Michelle.

Hollins has been recognized for several other awards. He was also named the ACC’s recipient of the Brian Piccolo Award–given annually to the “most courageous” football player in the ACC. He also was named the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award winner by the College Sports Communicators, the AP, and the Fiesta Bowl.

For his Virginia career, Hollins has 203 attempts for 814 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. As a receiver, he has hauled in 34 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown.

Before joining the University of Virginia, Hollins attended University Lab High School (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). In the 2019 recruiting cycle, he was ranked as the No. 807 overall player in the country and a three-star prospect, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.