Virginia football players killed in school shooting selected by NFL for 2023 NFL draft

Ahead of the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the league welcomed three University of Virginia football players who died in a Nov. 13 shooting into the NFL family as honorary members.

DSean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler lost their lives after former UVA football player Christopher Jones Jr. opened fire on a charter bus that had just returned to campus from a field trip in Washington, DC.

DBrickashaw Ferguson, a three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle with the New York Jets who played at Virginia before being selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, spoke about each player before commissioner Roger Goodell announced the first selections.

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The 2023 NFL Draft logo on the main stage at Union Station (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

“We’re making it official as we welcome the first picks in the 2023 NFL Draft to the NFL family in DSean Perry, Lavel Davis and Devin Chandler from the University of Virginia,” Ferguson said.

VIRGINIA FOOTBALL RETURNS ATTACKED IN SHOOTING GRANTED EXAMINATIONS

The families of each player were on stage to accept the jerseys.

Perry’s family got a Miami Dolphins jersey because he grew up in Miami. Davis Jr. was from Dorchester, SC, but his family got him a Baltimore Ravens jersey. The Chandler family, originally from Huntersville, North Carolina, received a Jacksonville Jaguars jersey.

A detailed view of the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

Chandler and Davis were the wide receivers for the Cavaliers. Chandler played two seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers before transferring to Virginia for his junior season. He never got to play with Virginia last season.

Davis played in eight games as a senior last season and had 16 receptions for 371 yards with two touchdowns.

Perry played three seasons with the Cavaliers at linebacker, making nine tackles and registering one sack in six of eight games.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

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After the shooting, the NFL was quick to honor the fallen players. The Washington Commanders added decals to the helmets with each player’s numbers 1, 15 and 41.