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The talent is there: UVA places 10 on All-ACC football teams

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UVaHelmet_1Seven defensive players highlight the 10 players from UVA football named to the 2014 All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Football team, as announced Monday by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).

Safety Quin Blanding, cornerback Maurice Canady, linebacker Henry Coley, placekicker Ian Frye and defensive end Eli Harold led UVa with second-team honors. Safety Anthony Harris, running back Kevin Parks and linebacker Max Valles earned third team accolades, while defensive tackle David Dean and return specialist Darius Jennings were named honorable-mention honorees.

With eight players named to the second and third teams, UVa ranks No. 3 in the ACC for total number of 2014 All-ACC players named to either the first, second or third teams. Florida State (17) and Duke (9) are the only schools ahead of Virginia. The 10 overall All-ACC honorees for UVa are the most for the Cavaliers since 2002 when they also had 10 players who earned all-league recognition.

The All-ACC accolades are the second career nods for Harris and Parks, both of whom were all-league performers in 2013. Blanding, Canady, Coley, Dean, Frye, Harold and Valles all earned first career honors.

Second-Team Honorees
Blanding (Fr., Virginia Beach, Va.) finished the regular season No. 2 in the ACC and No. 12 in the nation with 123 tackles. He finished his rookie campaign tied with Jamie Sharper (1996) for No. 10 in the UVa record book for tackles in a season and the 123 stops is the most tackles by a Cavalier in a season since Angelo Crowell had 155 in 2002. Blanding is one of two freshmen in the nation to lead his team in tackles (NC State’s Jerod Fernandez, 76) and he also led UVa with 79 tackles on rushing plays for the nation’s No. 21 rush defense (120.7 per game).

Canady (Jr., Richmond, Va.) finished the season No. 2 in the ACC with 15 passes defended and tied with the team lead with three interceptions. He returned an interception for a touchdown 69 yards against Kent State, the fourth-longest return for a touchdown in program history.

Coley (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va.) finished the season No. 5 in the ACC with 8.0 sacks and No. 7 with 12.5 tackles for loss. Coley and Valles led all ACC linebackers and defensive backs in tackles for loss. Coley recorded 76 tackles, broke up six passes and forced two fumbles.

Frye (Jr., Bristol, Va.) finished the season No. 2 all-time at UVa for field goals in a season (22). His 22 made field goals is tied for No. 1 in the ACC and No. 4 nationally. Frye was also named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award and was twice named the ACC Specialist of the Week, including after his 42-yard kick elevated UVa over then-No. 21 Louisville. It was the third-longest game-winning kick in school history.

Harold (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va.) finished the year No. 3 in the ACC with 14.5 tackles for loss and No. 6 in the ACC with 7.0 sacks. He made 54 tackles, forced one fumble and recovered two, including returning one 22 yards for a touchdown against Richmond. Harold also intercepted his second career pass at then-No.2 Florida State.

Third-Team Honorees
Harris (Sr., Chesterfield, Va.) finished the year No. 2 on the team with 108 tackles. No. 2 on the team with 70 tackles on rushing plays for the nation’s No. 21 rush defense (120.7 per game). Harris intercepted two passes to finish his career No. 10 all-time in program history with 11 picks.

Parks (Sr., Salisbury, N.C.) finished the season No. 8 in the ACC with 745 rushing yards and concludes outstanding career No. 5 all-time at UVa with 3,219 career rushing yards.

Valles (So., Sicklerville, N.J.) finished No. 2 in the ACC with 9.0 sacks and No. 7 in the ACC with 12.5 tackles for loss. Valles and Coley led all ACC linebackers and defensive backs in tackles for loss. Valles recorded an interception and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown against Pitt.

Honorable Mention Honorees
Dean (Jr., Virginia Beach, Va.) was a key cog in the middle of UVa’s defensive front seven. He recorded first career interception and returned it three yards for a touchdown at Virginia Tech.

Jennings (Sr., Baltimore, Md.) finished the season No. 1 in the ACC and No. 6 nationally with 27.5 kick return yards per game. His 1,839 career kick return yards is a UVa record.

2014 All-ACC Football Team
(As voted upon by ACSMA; Listed by position and total points)
1st Team Offense
WR Rashad Greene, Sr., Florida State…….. 157
WR Jamison Crowder, Sr., Duke ……………. 150
WR Tyler Boyd, So., Pitt ……………………….. 149
TE Nick O’Leary, Sr., Florida State ………. 131
T Cameron Erving, Sr.-R., Florida State 133
T T.J. Clemmings, Sr.-R, Pitt………………… 90
G Laken Tomlinson, Sr.-R, Duke ………… 114
G Tre’ Jackson, Sr., Florida State ………. 121
C Andy Gallik, Sr.-R, Boston College ….. 105
QB Jameis Winston, So.-R, Florida State 142
RB James Conner, So., Pitt …………………… 164
RB Duke Johnson, Jr., Miami ………………. 159
K Roberto Aguayo, So.-R, Florida State.. 153
Sp. Jamison Crowder, Sr., Duke ……………… 86

2nd Team Offense
WR Phillip Dorsett, Sr.-R, Miami……………… 96
WR Mike Williams, So., Clemson…………………… 84
WR Artavis Scott, Fr., Clemson ……………… 80
TE Clive Walford, Sr.-R, Miami ……………. 101
T Ereck Flowers, Jr., Miami …………………. 69
T Jamon Brown, Sr., Louisville ……………. 50
G Shaquille Mason, Sr., Georgia Tech… 102
G Josue Matias, Jr., Florida State………… 48
C Cameron Erving, Sr.-R, Florida State…. 71
QB Marquise Williams, Jr., North Carolina. 89
RB Zach Laskey, Sr., Georgia Tech…………… 69
RB Dalvin Cook, So., Florida State …………. 63
K Ian Frye, Jr.-R, Virginia……………………… 67
Sp. Tyler Boyd, So., Pitt ………………………… 58

3rd Team Offense
WR DeAndre Smelter, Sr.-R, Georgia Tech…………. 72
WR DeVante Parker, Sr., Louisville…………… 62
WR Ryan Switzer, So., North Carolina …….. 54
TE Bucky Hodges, Fr.-R, Virginia Tech …… 38
T Sean Hickey, Sr., Syracuse………………… 48
T (tie)Bobby Hart, Sr., Florida State…………… 42
(tie)Seth Betancourt, Sr.-R, Boston College 42
(tie)Tacoby Cofield, Sr.-R, Duke………………. 42
G Landon Turner, Jr., North Carolina …… 42
G Matt Rotheram, Sr.-R, Pitt………………. 42
C Matt Skura, Jr.-R, Duke ……………………. 44
QB Justin Thomas,So., Georgia Tech………. 35
RB Kevin Parks, So., Virginia………………….. 60
RB John Hilliman, Fr., Boston College……… 51
K Ross Martin, Jr., Duke……………………….. 48
Sp. DeVon Edwards, So., Duke ………………. 48

Honorable Mention/Offense (8 or more points):
QB–Brad Kaaya, Miami (21). RB–Shadrach Thornton, NC State (33); Synjyn Days, Georgia Tech (24). WR–Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech (24); Mack Hollins, North Carolina (20). TE–Cam Serigne (25). T–Bryan Chamberlain, Georgia Tech (40); Ian Silberman, Boston College (35). G–David Beasley, Clemson (39); Bobby Vardaro, Boston College (34); John Miller, Louisville (31); Jon Feliciano, Miami (30); Kalon Davis, Clemson (28). C–Shane McDermott, Miami (36); Freddie Burden, Georgia Tech (35); Jake Smith, Louisville (26). PK–Ammon Lakip (32), Clemson; SP–Rashad Greene, Florida State (37); Darius Jennings, Virginia (28); Rayn Switzer, North Carolina (23); Jamal Golden, Georgia Tech (20).

1st Team Defense
DE Vic Beasley, Sr.-R, Clemson …………….. 159
DE Mario Edwards Jr., Jr., Florida State …. 112
DT Eddie Goldman, Jr., Florida State …….. 129
DT Grady Jarrett, Sr., Clemson ……………… 127
LB Denzel Perryman, Sr., Miami …………… 145
LB David Helton, Sr., Duke …………………… 104
LB Stephone Anthony, Sr., Clemson ……………….. 101
CB Kendall Fuller, So., Virginia Tech ……… 119
CB P.J. Williams, Jr., Florida State …………. 105
S Gerod Holliman, So.-R Louisville ……… 132
S Jalen Ramsey, So., Florida State ………… 92
P Wil Baumann, Sr., NC State ……………… 108

2nd Team Defense
DE Dadi Nicolas, Jr.-R, Virginia Tech ………. 101
DE Eli Harold, Jr., Virginia……………………….. 65
DT Adam Gotsis, Jr., Georgia Tech…………………… 48
DT Tylor Harris, Jr., Wake Forest…………….. 43
LB Terrance Smith, Jr.-R, Florida State ……. 82
LB Lorenzo Mauldin, Sr., Louisville …………. 79
LB(Tie)Henry Coley, Sr.-R, Virginia …………….. 68
LB(Tie)Quayshawn Nealy, Sr.-R, Georgia Tech 68
CB Garry Peters, Sr., Clemson ………………… 63
CB Maurice Canady, Jr., Virginia ……………… 56
S Jeremy Cash, Jr.-R, Duke …………………… 83
S Quin Blanding, Fr., Virginia………………… 71
P Alex Kinal, Jr.-R, Wake Forest …………….. 86

3rd Team Defense
DE Sheldon Rankins, Jr., Louisville……………. 45
DE Ken Ekanem, Jr., So.-R, Virginia Tech….. 40
DT Corey Marshall, Jr.-R, Virginia Tech ……. 41
DT Connor Wujciak, Jr., Boston College …… 41
LB Reggie Northrup, Jr., Florida State……… 54
LB Cameron Lynch, Sr., Syracuse……………. 45
LB Max Valles, So., Virginia…………………….. 45
CB Ronald Darby, Jr., Florida State………….. 51
CB Charles Gaines, Jr.-R, Louisville …………. 47
S Anthony Harrus, Sr., Virginia………………. 56
S Jamal Golden, Jr., Georgia Tech………….. 43
P Justin Vogel, So., Miami …………………… 40

Honorable Mention/Defense 89 or more points):
DE–Art Norman, NC State (25); KeShun Freeman, Georgia Tech (23); Anthony Chickillo, Miami (21); B.J. Dubose, Louisville (20); DT–Olsen Pierre, Miami (38); David Dean, Virginia (37); Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech (33); Nigel William, Virginia Tech (29); Thomas Teal, NC State (27); Ethan Farmer, North Carolina (22); Josh Banks, Wke Forest (20). LB–Brandon Chubb, Wake Forest (30); P.J. Davis,. Georgia Tech (25); Josh Keyes, Boston College (22); Keith Kelsey, Louisville (20). CB–Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest (45); D.J. White, Georgia Tech (40); Merrilll Noel, Wake Forest (34); Brian Walker, North Carolina (27); MacKensie Alexander, Clemson (22). S–Deon Bush, Miami (36); DeVon Edwards, Duke (26); Robert Smith, Clemson (20), P–Will Monday, Duke (29); Riley Dixon, Syracuse (23).

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