Nov. 29, 2007

• Watch his video on the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Page

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia senior tight end Tom Santi has been named recipient of the 2007 James E. Tatum Award, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced today. The Tatum Award is given annually in memory of the late Jim Tatum to the top senior student-athlete among the league's football players. Tatum, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, coached in the fifties at both Maryland and North Carolina and believed strongly in the concept of the student-athlete.

Santi, a native of Nashville, Tenn., is a three-year starter for the Cavaliers who was named to the second-team All-ACC football team this past Monday. He is currently the third-leading receiver in Virginia history for a tight end, having made 94 career receptions for 1,168 yards and 6 touchdowns. A team captain for the 2007 Cavaliers, Santi led Virginia in receiving three times in 2007 and eight times during his career. He is the fifth tight end in school history to reach 1,000 yards in receiving yardage.

A member of the 2006 ACC All-Academic Football Team, he currently has a career 3.35 GPA in his major of Sociology. In addition to his academic achievements, Santi is the co-founder of a community service program called "Athletes Committed to Community and Education," which is designed to promote academic success, support character education and develop leadership qualities.

"There is a reason why the award going to an individual who embodies numerous outstanding qualities is named after Jim Tatum, who established a legacy of performance and integrity during the formative years of the ACC," said Virginia Head Football Coach Al Groh. "Tom is a player, teammate, leader and student who Jim Tatum would be impressed with and proud of. He stands for everything we prize about Virginia football."

Santi becomes fourth player from the University of Virginia to be honored with the Tatum Award, joining former standout student-athletes such as Noel Lamontgne (1999), Stephen Phelan (1997) and Thomas Burns (1993).