Virginia Flexes Muscle with 15 All-ACC Selections; Hokies Find Defensive Silver Linings
ROANOKE, Va. - The Atlantic Coast Conference rolled out its 2025 All-ACC Football Teams on Tuesday, and the Commonwealth had plenty to celebrate - especially in Charlottesville. Virginia placed 15 players on the list, the most among state programs and tied with Duke for the second-most in the entire conference. Virginia Tech, despite a tough season, saw a pair of defenders earn recognition, offering a glimpse of promise for the future.
Cavaliers’ Breakout Season Earns Big-Time Recognition
What a turnaround year it’s been for Virginia. After finishing the regular season 10-2 and capturing their first outright ACC regular-season title, the Cavaliers saw that success reflected in the All-ACC honors.
Sophomore running back J’Mari Taylor headlined the group, earning a spot on the first team after a breakout campaign that made him one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league. Taylor was the engine of Virginia’s offense all season long - a back who not only piled up yardage but consistently delivered in key moments. His ability to shift gears and break open games was a major reason the Cavaliers went 7-1 in conference play.
On the second team, center Brady Wilson and punter Daniel Sparks got the nod. Wilson anchored an offensive line that gave Taylor room to operate and kept the pocket clean, while Sparks quietly had one of the most consistent seasons among ACC punters - flipping field position and giving the defense room to work.
The third team featured four more Cavaliers: wide receiver Trell Harris, offensive tackle McKale Boley, offensive guard Noah Josey, and linebacker Kam Robinson. Harris became a reliable target in the passing game, while Boley and Josey helped form one of the more underrated offensive lines in the league. Robinson, meanwhile, was a force on the defensive side - a sideline-to-sideline presence with a nose for the football.
Seven more Cavaliers earned honorable mention: quarterback Chandler Morris, tight end Sage Ennis, wideout Cam Ross, edge rusher Mitchell Melton, defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter, defensive back Ja’son Prevard, and kicker Will Bettridge. That kind of depth on the honors list speaks volumes about the balance and talent across all three phases of Virginia’s roster.
Virginia Tech’s Defense Stands Tall Amid Tough Year
It wasn’t the season Virginia Tech hoped for, but the Hokies still found moments to build on - particularly on the defensive front.
Defensive tackle Kemari Copeland earned a third-team selection after anchoring the middle with strength and consistency. His ability to disrupt plays from the interior was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging year.
Fellow defensive lineman Kody Huisman received honorable mention, rounding out a defensive line that showed flashes of dominance even when the results didn’t always follow. For a team that missed out on postseason play, these honors are a reminder that the foundation for a bounce-back year might already be in place.
ACC Landscape and What’s Next
The All-ACC teams were selected by a panel of 65 media members and the league’s 17 head coaches, using a 3-2-1 point system. Miami led all schools with 14 total selections, but Virginia wasn’t far behind - and with the ACC Championship Game looming, the Cavaliers are still writing the final chapter of what’s already been a historic season.
For Virginia Tech, it’s about looking ahead. The individual honors point to pieces worth building around as the Hokies regroup and aim to return to ACC relevance.
But for now, the spotlight belongs to the Cavaliers - a team that went from middle of the pack to top of the conference, and now boasts one of the deepest All-ACC rosters in the league.