Four Cavaliers Named to All-ACC Academic Football Team

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Jan. 26, 2006

Greensboro, N.C. – Four University of Virginia football players were named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team announced today by commissioner John Swofford. To be eligible, a player must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the fall semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.

UVa’s four honorees are tied for fourth-most in the conference with North Carolina. Duke led the way with eight selections, while Miami and Virginia Tech both had five.

Named to the 41-man squad are seniors LB Mark Miller and PK Kurt Smith, junior CB Marcus Hamilton and sophomore TE Tom Santi.

Miller started nine games this past season and made a career-high 38 tackles. A psychology major, he finished with a 3.36 grade point average during the fall.

Smith received his degree in economics last May and competed as a graduate student enrolled in the Curry School of Education. He compiled a 3.00 GPA in the fall.

Hamilton led the ACC in interceptions and earned second-team All-ACC honors this past season. He received his degree in sociology in December, a semester early, and had a 3.36 GPA for the first semester. He is one of four players to earn a berth on the academic team for the third straight year.

Santi was the team’s second-leading receiver last fall with 358 yards on 19 receptions. He had a big performance in the Music City Bowl win over Minnesota, played in Nashville, Tenn., his hometown. He caught five passes for 128 yards. He had a 3.60 GPA in the fall semester.

Virginia opens the 2006 season at Pittsburgh on Sept. 2.