One of the biggest surprises for the Virginia Cavaliers football program in 2017 was the contributions they got from players who came to the program without scholarships.
Safety Brenton Nelson won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year on the strength of four picks and 58 tackles (including two tackles for loss). Lester Coleman went from making his collegiate debut in 2017 to making the 2017 All-ACC second team. Wide receiver Ben Hogg put in his dues for two years on the scout team, then cracked the starting lineup twice in 2017 before his season ended early due to injury.