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Why didn’t the ACC include more UVA names on the All-ACC Preseason Football ballot?

Chris Graham
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Photo: UVA Athletics

If you wonder why you don’t see a lot of names from the UVA Football team on the soon-to-be-announced All-ACC Preseason Football team, it might be because there weren’t many names on the ballot.

Several schools had multiple nominees among position groups on the O and D lines, linebacker, secondary and wideout units, and special-teams specialists.

Virginia had multiple nominees at just one position – defensive end (Chico Bennett Jr. and Kam Butler).

Starting QB Tony Muskett wasn’t among the 10 nominees for the quarterback slot.

There were no UVA running backs among the 15 nominees there.

Malachi Fields was the lone UVA wideout among the 25 nominees at that position.

Virginia had two offensive linemen among the 39 nominees on the O line – center Brian Stevens and tackle McKale Boley.

Jahmeer Carter was among the 15 nominees at defensive tackle.

James Jackson was among the 19 nominees at linebacker.

(Where the hell is Kam Robinson?)

The lone member of the secondary among the 37 nominees was safety Jonas Sanker.

Special teams was actually fully vested – placekicker Will Bettridge, punter Daniel Sparks and specialist Chris Tyree (who was also nominated in the all-purpose offense spot).

If it’s me running the balloting, I’d give every school at least one nominee at each position.

In the case of the Virginia roster, it’s not like there’s a lack of returning productive guys to choose from.

I’m not sure who dropped the ball here, whether it was the folks at UVA or the folks at the ACC, but something seems off here.

Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham, the king of "fringe media," a zero-time Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, and a member of zero Halls of Fame, is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, or subscribe to his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].