UVA running back J’Mari Taylor headlines 15 Cavaliers to earn All-ACC honors

Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor was named a First Team All-ACC selection on Tuesday, headlining a group of 15 Cavaliers to 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 is a look at where each of those 15 Cavaliers wound up according to the 82-member voting panel consisting of 65 media members and all 17 ACC head coaches.

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 walk-on 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 in and allowed just one sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Sparks earned all-conference honors for the third time, having done so in 2022 and 2024 as well.

Third Team All-ACC

Five Cavaliers were voted to the All-ACC Third Team, including star linebacker Kam Robinson, who suffered a torn ACL in Virginia’s penultimate game against Duke. Robinson missed three games at the start of the season due to a collarbone injury as well. Still, he totaled 64 tackles in eight games, second most on the team. Last season, Robinson was an 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 tied for ninth in the ACC, respectively. Neal, meanwhile, tallied a team-high 70 tackles as well as six pass breakups, tied for second most on the team.

Boley and Josey both started all 12 games this season, with Boley allowing only two sacks and Josey allowing zero. The duo has been a formidable pairing protecting quarterback Chandler Morris’s blindside.

All-ACC Honorable Mentions

Also earning all-conference honors as All-ACC Honorable Mentions 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 catches for 179 yards, but he is tied with Harris for the team-high in receiving touchdowns (5) and he plays a critical 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 primary punt returner with 170 yards on 2o returns.

Melton leads the Cavaliers in three categories: tackles for loss (10), quarterback hurries (32), and forced fumbles (3). His 32 hurries are tied for the 13th most nationally, according to PFF. The Ohio State transfer is also 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 factored in Virginia’s run defense as a stopgap up the middle.

Prevard has been one of the more notable breakout performers 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 win in double overtime, immediately prompting an all-time field storming at Scott Stadium.

Bettridge has been solid all season for Virginia, converting on 20 of 24 field goal attempts and all 46 of his extra point attempts. He was 14-for-15 from inside 40 yards, 6-for-8 from 40 to 49 yards, and 0-for-1 from 50-plus yards. Bettridge (106 points) only finished behind Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr (117 points) in total scoring in the ACC.