Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor was named a First Team All-ACC selection on Tuesday, leading a group of 15 Cavaliers who will receive all-conference honors this season. It is the most selections in a single season for Virginia since 16 Cavaliers were honored in 1996.
Here’s a look at where each of those 15 Cavaliers finished according to the 82-member voting panel consisting of 65 media members and all 17 ACC head coaches.
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First Team All-ACC
Taylor was the only first-team selection, falling just seven votes shy of NC State’s Hollywood Smothers for the most among running backs despite leading the conference in rushing yards (997) and leading all ACC running backs in rushing touchdowns (14). The former NC Central is the first Virginia running back since Alvin Pearman in 2004 to receive first-team honors.
Second Team All-ACC
Center Brady Wilson and punter Daniel Sparks were Virginia’s two second-team selections. Wilson, a graduate transfer from UAB, started all nine games he played and allowed just one sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Sparks earned all-conference honors for the third time, having also done so in 2022 and 2024.
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Third Team All-ACC
Five Cavaliers were chosen to the All-ACC third team, including star linebacker Kam Robinson, who suffered a torn ACL in Virginia’s next-to-last game against Duke. Robinson also missed three games early in the season due to a collarbone injury. Still, he totaled 64 tackles in eight games, the second-most on the team. Last season, Robinson received All-ACC Honorable Mention.
Leading receiver Trell Harris and leading tackler Devin Neal were also third-team selections. Harris leads the Cavaliers in receptions (56), receiving yards (809) and receiving touchdowns (5). Those marks ranked tied for eighth, seventh and ninth in the ACC, respectively. Meanwhile, Neal tallied a team-high 70 tackles as well as six pass deflections, tied for second on the team.
Boley and Josey started all 12 games this season, with Boley allowing just two sacks and Josey allowing none. The duo has been a formidable pair protecting quarterback Chandler Morris’ blind side.
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All-ACC honorable mentions
Also earning All-ACC Honorable Mention all-conference honors were Morris, tight end Sage Ennis, wide receiver Cam Ross as an all-purpose selection, defensive end Mitchell Melton, defensive tackle Jahmeer Carter, cornerback Ja’son Prevard and kicker Will Bettridge.
Ennis has just 18 receptions for 179 yards, but is tied with Harris for the most on the team in receiving touchdowns (5) and plays a key role as a blocker. Ross is the team’s second-leading receiver with 43 receptions for 459 yards and two touchdowns, while also serving as the team’s leading punt returner with 170 yards on 20 returns.
Melton leads the Cavaliers in three categories: tackles for loss (10), quarterback hurries (32) and forced fumbles (3). His 32 hurries rank 13th nationally, according to PFF. The Ohio State transfer also ranks second on the team in sacks (5) and quarterback hits (6). Carter has 27 tackles this season, tied for 11th on the team, and has largely relied on Virginia’s run defense as a stopgap in the middle.
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Prevard has been one of the most notable players on defense this season, highlighted by his two interceptions against Florida State. The first came early in the game with the Seminoles deep in Virginia territory. The second clinched the victory in double overtime, immediately setting off an all-time field storm at Scott Stadium.
Bettridge has been solid all season for Virginia, converting 20 of 24 field goal attempts and all 46 of his extra point attempts. He was 14 of 15 from inside 40 yards, 6 of 8 from 40 to 49 yards and 0 of 1 from beyond 50 yards. Bettridge (106 points) finished behind only Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr (117 points) in total scoring in the ACC.