“I’ve always had, you know, a belief that eventually one day I would earn my role in the offense,” shared fourth year running back Perris Jones. During his first three years on the UVA football team, he played his role on special teams and was happy to do so. However, the recent coaching changes presented an opportunity, and Perris took full advantage of the chance to showcase his talent for the new staff.

Perris is from Alexandria, Virginia, and an alum of Episcopal High School. He has received bachelor's degrees in both African-American studies and English and is pursuing a master’s degree in Educational Psychology. Off the field, Perris enjoys spending his time playing his guitar or piano, writing poetry, and watching movies. “I also like going on hikes and walks in nature, and going to the overlooks around Charlottesville,” he said. 

But for Perris, football is everything - “I wouldn't say it's a hobby as much as it is a part of who I am.” Perris has been playing the game for as long as he can remember, and playing for a Division One team has always been a dream of his. “The game taught me a lot about who I am as an individual and helped me through a lot of hardships in life,” Jones said. Football has instilled in him many key personality traits, one of the most important being hard work. 

In 2018, Perris walked on to the UVA football team with the goal of earning playing time. His relentless work ethic earned him a scholarship, and today he is a starting running back for the Hoos who rushed 19 times for 104 net yards and a touchdown in the opener against the Richmond spiders. He averaged 5.5 yards per attempt and caught two passes for 14 yards and an 11-yard touchdown. “I knew that I would, you know, get what I worked for,” Perris said. Between his role as a fourth year on the team and the pressure to prove himself to a new coaching staff, he was aware of the importance of the 2022 off-season for his career. “We’re tasked with reinforcing values such as hard work and things like that for the younger guys and being good examples,” he said, “it's definitely a blessing, but a responsibility on the same token.” Perris secured his star spot during fall training camp after proving himself to Coach Elliott and the new staff. 

Perris describes Coach Elliott as “an amazing man.” He said, “he's a guy focused on hard work, but also cares about his players, which is something that I really, really appreciate from a head coach.” He mentions how the supporting staff all preach the same principles. “They all care about us as individuals and want to make sure that we're being the best people that we can be and in turn being the best football players that we can be,” Perris said. 

Outside of football, Perris is passionate about helping underprivileged kids discover opportunities they might not know even exist. “When I was growing up, I had no idea what college was. I honestly thought that high school was the highest level of education you could get,” Perris said.“Kids like me, who don't know what the world has to offer, just peeling back those curtains for them can change everything.” This support is something he has found here at UVA. “My professors have helped me with what I want to do with my future, and a large part of that was creating connections,” he said. “It's just bigger than the class here.”

“The team is coming together closer and closer every week, which is a special thing and I think it's gonna be a fun group to watch as the weeks progress,” Perris said when asked about what comes next for the Hoos. “I think we're gonna get better and better as time goes on and I could not be more excited for the upcoming season.” 

Stay tuned for future Hoo Highlight features shining the spotlight on hardworking student-athletes who go above & beyond to engage the community, build their personal brands, and embody what it means to be a Wahoo.