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Greer Named Freshman All-American By Two Publications, Highlighting UVa Selections
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Three Virginia football players were named to Phil Steele’s Postseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football team, announced Tuesday, including linebacker Steve Greer who earned Freshman All-America accolades and also received an All-America nod from CollegeFootballNews.com.
Greer nabbed second team Freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele’s postseason list and CollegeFootballNews.com, while also grabbing third team All-ACC recognition by the Phil Steele publication. Defensive tackle Nate Collins was named to the Phil Steele All-ACC first team, while cornerback Ras-I Dowling earned third-team accolades from the publication.
Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is one of the nation’s most informative preseason football magazines, while CollegeFootballNews.com is a comprehensive daily outlet for all of college football.
Greer led the UVa and all ACC freshmen in tackles with 92, earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors. The Solon, Ohio native also ranked No. 5 among the nation’s freshmen with his 92 stops, which included a career-high 14 tackles at Miami.
Collins emerged on the scene during his senior campaign by earning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following stellar career outings against then-No. 11 Georgia Tech and at Maryland. The Port Chester, N.Y., native finished the season ranked No. 5 in the ACC with 6.0 sacks, on his way to earning All-ACC first team honors and being named the Touchdown Club of Richmond’s Defensive Lineman of the Year. A part-time starter a season ago, Collins started all 12 games and set a career high with 16 tackles against then-No. 11 Georgia Tech. Collins also snared his first career interception and returned it 32 yards for the go-ahead touchdown at Maryland. On the season Collins finished second on the team with 77 tackles.
Dowling, a junior, earned his second straight second team All-ACC nod, anchoring the ACC’s No. 4 and the nation’s No. 21 pass defense. The Chesapeake, Va., native finished the season ranked No. 6 in the ACC in passes defended (11) and No. 11 in interceptions (three). After recording a career-high nine tackles, including his first career sack, against Indiana, Dowling earned the ACC Defensive Back of the Week nod by the league. He also averaged 3.4 tackles per game and had two tackles for loss.