CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (VirginiaSports.com) – The Virginia football program announced today (August 9) it has added two transfers, according to head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Defensive back D’Angelo Amos and defensive lineman Adeeb Atariwa have signed a grant-in-aid documents and will enroll at UVA this summer. Amos and Atariwa will each have one year of eligibility for the Cavaliers and will be eligible immediately as graduate transfers.
Amos (Richmond, Va.) appeared in 44 career games for Dukes and leaves JMU No. 2 all-time with 1,259 career punt return yards. He returned five punts for touchdowns, including three in 2018. The defensive back was an American Football Coaches Association first-team All-American in 2019, as well as a first-team All-CAA safety and punt returner. He made 57 tackles, two interceptions, broke up five passes and blocked three kicks in 2019. Amos also returned 33 punts for 426 yards and one touchdown. For his career, Amos made 135 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, four blocked kicks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Amos is a 2015 graduate of Meadowbrook High School where he as an All-Central Region utility player as a senior in 2015. He earned three varsity football letters and was a tri-sport athlete that ran track and played basketball. Amos was all-state in the 4x100 relay and was an all-region long jumper. Prior to enrolling at JMU, he played one season at West Point Prep, making four interceptions during 2015 season.
Atariwa (Sterling, Va.) appeared in 39 career games for James Madison with 23 career starts. The defensive lineman made 52 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, a pass breakup and one blocked kick in 2019. Atariwa recorded 87 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks while working primarily in the middle of the line.
Atariwa is a 2016 graduate of Dominion High School where he earned VHSL 4A second-team all-state honors. He was a 4A West first-team all-region selection as a junior and senior and the Conference 21 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Atariwa was a dual-sport athlete who also wrestled, winning the 2015 4A state championship at the 285 pound weight class.
D’Angelo Amos (aye-muss)6-1 • 185 • DBRichmond, Va. • Meadowbrook HS/West Point Prep/JMU PREVIOUS SCHOOLA 2019 graduate from James Madison, where he appeared in 44 career games for the Dukes … leaves JMU No. 2 all-time with 1,259 career punt return yards … returned five punts for touchdowns, including three in 2018 … an AFCA first-team All-American in 2019, as well as a first-team All-CAA safety and punt returner … made 57 tackles, two interceptions, broke up five passes and blocked three kicks in 2019 … returned 33 punts for 426 yards and one touchdown … made 135 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, four blocked kicks, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONALPlayed one season at West Point Prep, retaining all years of eligibility ... played safety at Meadowbrook High School for head coach Troy Taylor … made four interceptions during 2015 season … All-Central Region utility player as a senior... earned three varsity letters ... tri-sport athlete who also ran track and played basketball ... all-state in 4x100 relay and All-Region long jumper ... captained Meadowbrook's basketball team ... distinguished honor roll all four years ... National Honor Society member ... Richmond's Student-Athlete of the Year ... earned math and health academic cords and recipient of the Marine Athlete Award … son of Rena Amos ... has four brothers and five sisters, including his twin sister, D'Asia ... brother, DaShaun, was a defensive back for East Carolina (2012-16) ... earned a degree in sport and recreation management.
Adeeb Atariwa (uh-deeb u-tar-ee-wah)6-3 • 275 • DLSterling, Va. • Dominion HS/JMU PREVIOUS SCHOOLA 2019 graduate from James Madison, where he appeared in 39 career games for the Dukes with 23 career starts. The defensive lineman made 52 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble, a pass breakup and one blocked kick in 2019. Atariwa recorded 87 career tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks while working primarily in the middle of the line.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONALPlayed defensive and offensive line at Dominion High School for head coach Karl Buckwalter … VHSL 4A second-team All-State defensive lineman as a junior and senior … 4A West first-team all-region as a junior and senior … Conference 21 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … first-team All-Conference 21 as a junior and senior … Viva Loudoun All-Loudoun Team as a senior … helped Titans to 2014 4A playoffs … dual-sport athlete who also wrestled, winning the 2015 4A state championship at the 285 pound weight class … was high school teammates with UVA offensive lineman Tommy Christ … son of Rabiou and Christine Atariwa … has a brother, Yazeed, and a sister, Brook … brother, Yazeed, played on the offensive line at Toledo (2014-18) … earned a degree in economics.
