Wahoo Wire

Courtesy of www.hoosfootball.com

James Farrior beasted out this past week on Monday Night Football as he led the Pittsburgh Steelers defense with 11 tackles and a sack. Farrior had his best performance of the year as the Steelers won 27-21 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals’ dynamic duo, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens.

Farrior has been excellent all season and for most of his career. It is no surprise that while at Matoaca High School near Richmond, Virginia, Farrior earned basically every athletic award that one can for football at the district, regional, metro, and state levels. Farrior chose to continue playing football at the University of Virginia.

In Farrior’s three years at UVA he recorded the third most tackles all time with 381, and earned All-ACC honors during his junior and senior seasons.

James was scooped up by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL draft with the 8^th overall pick in the first round. He was an immediate impact in the league as he recorded 70 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Farrior struggled with injuries starting his next season, but eventually recovered to have the best years of his career. James went on to become a key component in winning 2 Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While succeeding in the NFL, Farrior still strives to give back to the community. James is a co-founder of the James Farrior foundation. He works with underprivileged children in the Richmond area by providing school supplies and college scholarships. Farrior is an active member of the bone marrow registry and is also an honorary chair of the Challenge for Champions, which finds homes for foster children in Pittsburgh.

Farrior has continued to make UVA proud over 13 years after his departure and is fine testament to the quality of athletes that attend Mr. Jefferson’s University.