Virginia football player Anthony Harris was named to the SB Nation All-America first team. The honor makes Harris the first Cavalier to be named a first-team All-American by any outlet since Chris Long was a unanimous first-team All-American in 2007. Also recognized with All-America honors on Monday was OT Eric Smith, who was named a first-team freshman All-American by 247Sports.
The All-America honor for Harris is his second of the season. The junior also was named to the Walter Camp All-America second team last week. Smith was honored last week by College Football News as an honorable mention honoree on its All-Freshman team.
Harris (Chesterfield, Va.) leads the nation with eight interceptions, which included a UVa record five-straight games with a pick. The eight interceptions place Harris in a three-way tie with Ronde Barber (1994) and Kevin Cook (1987) for No. 2 all-time at UVa for picks in a season. Harris finished the regular season No. 5 in the ACC with 1.2 passes defended per game and is No. 24 in the ACC overall in tackles. Harris started the season with a key block and second-half interception in UVa’s season-opening win over BYU. The effort earned Harris the accolade of the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week.
Harris has also been named to first-team on both the media and coaches All-ACC squads.
Smith (Decatur, Ga.) made his collegiate debut against VMI and started the last eight games for the Cavaliers at right tackle. Smith became only the fourth true freshman to start at a tackle position in UVa program history. D’Brickashaw Ferguson was the first in 2002, followed later that season by Brad Butler. Morgan Moses was the third in 2010. Butler, Moses and Smith all made their starts at right tackle, while Ferguson started the entire 2002 season at left tackle.
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