U.Va.’s Woolfolk wears one hat and one helmet

Depending on the season, Jay Woolfolk wears either No. 4 or No. 16 for the University of Virginia.

In blue and orange No. 4, the former Benedictine standout is a tip-top reason why the Cavaliers might go far in this year’s NCAA baseball playoffs.

Wearing No. 16 this fall, the 6-foot, 200-pound righthander may figure heavily in Virginia’s hopes for rising football fortunes.

As a legitimate two-sport athlete, Woolfolk represents a diminishing breed on the high end of NCAA Division 1 sports.

It’s no easy matter, even for someone as gifted as Woolfolk, the son of former JeffersonHuguenot-Wythe and University of Richmond basketball star Pete Woolfolk.

The baseball season and spring football overlap in Charlottesville.

That means Woolfolk had to split time this past spring between being the baseball pitching closer (he leads team in saves) and auditioning to be the Cavaliers’ No. 1 QB when the gridiron season opens Sept. 2 at Tennessee.

If all goes well for Virgnia baseball, the Cavaliers could be playing through the end of June at the College World Series in Omaha. The Cavaliers defeated East Carolina to win the Charlottesville Region and now await the Conway (S.C.) Region champ for the Super Regional June 9-11 in Charlottesville.

August, but football training on the FBS level is year-round.

After two seasons backing up U.Va. quarterback Brennan Armstrong, Woolfolk now figures to be dueling with transfer Tony Muskett for the starting call.

Jay Woolfolk

An All-Big South selection, Muskett came to Charlottesville following some record-setting aerial performances at Monmouth University, N.J.

Woolfolk, blessed with a fastball approaching 98 miles an hour, has been the shining star of the bullpen this season for U.Va. Coach Brian O’Connor.

The Super Regional winner advances to the College World series in Omaha.

Formal football practices under second-year coach Tony Ellis will commence about the first of

He does his best work at “closing time,” generally in the ninth inning of a close game. With a team-high 26 appearances, he has a 2-0 record, a

2.48 earned run average and 38 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.

Woolfolk leads the Cavaliers with nine saves and is an intimidating figure coming out of the bullpen.

As a football player, Woolfolk has seen limited duty. But in 2021, facing Notre Dame, he became the first true freshman to start at QB since 1977.

As a freshman in 2022, he was 3-0 with a 2.87 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37.2 innings but wasn’t used as much in game-ending situations.

Wearing football pads, Woolfolk has seen limited duty. But in 2021, facing Notre Dame, he became the first true U.Va. freshman to start at QB since 1977.

Woolfolk was the epitome of a two-sport hero at Benedictine. He hurled the Cadets to State Independent Schools titles in 2019 and 2021 and was State Gatorade