Micah Kiser and Jackson Matteo representing Virginia at ACC Kickoff

The ACC Kickoff starts today, July 21, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each team has the opportunity to send two student-athletes to field reporters’ questions during the two-day media blitz. Virginia will be represented by junior ILB Micah Kiser and senior C Jackson Matteo as Bronco Mendenhall goes through the ACC media gauntlet for the first time over the next two days.

Kiser is on the 2016 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, awarded to college football’s defensive best in character and performance. Last year, he started in all 12 games, finishing regular season No. 1 in the conference and No. 17 in the nation with 117 tackles. Kiser, along with Quin Blanding, became the first pair of sophomores at UVA to earn first-team All-ACC honors since Terry Kirby and Chris Slade in 1990.

Matteo is on the 2016 Rimington Trophy Watch List, awarded to the nation’s top center. Last year, he started all 12 games and snapped the ball on every UVA offensive play except for one against North Carolina. He did not allow a sack in 413 passing opportunities and was an effective blocker for Smoke Mizzell.

The Virginia Football account tracked their journey all the way down to Charlotte:

Sometimes awkwardly so:

Stay tuned on Streaking the Lawn for continued ACC Kickoff coverage throughout the next two days.