Virginia Football: Cavalier All-Americans

Story Links

Cavalier All-Americans

All-Time UVa All-America Selections

Year Player Pos Publication
1915 Allen Thurman G Charles Parker-3
1915 Eugene Mayer B MNK-1, PD-1, Newark Star-1
St. Louis Times-1
1916 Allen Thurman G Charles Parker-3
1940 Bill Dudley B AP-3
1941 Bill Dudley B AP-1, ALP-1, FBD-1, WIL-1, UPI-1,GR-1, NYS-1
BC-1, NW-1, INS-2, NEA-2, CP-2, BST-3
1944 Henry Walker E AP-2, BST-2, FBD-3
1945 Henry Walker E AP-3, FBD-3
1949 John Papit RB NEA-1

1951 Joe Palumbo MG AP-1, NEA-1
1952 Tom Scott E AP-1, NEA-1
1957 Jim Bakhtiar RB FW-1, NYN-1
1978 Russ Henderson P FN-3
1984 Lester Lyles S AP-3
1984 Jim Dombrowski T TSN-2
1985 Jim Dombrowski T AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, FW-1, CPFW-1,
TSN-1, WC-1, AFC-1
1989 Roy Brown G AP-2
1989 Ray Savage LB KDK-1, CPFW-2
1990 Herman Moore WR AP-1, UPI-1, SN-1, FN-1, FW-1
1990 Shawn Moore QB AFCA-1, FW-1, AP-2, UPI-2, TSN-2
1991 Ray Roberts T SH-1, AFCA-1, AP-2, CPFW-2, FN-2,
UPI-2
1991 Chris Slade LB CPFW-1, FN-2, AP-3
1992 Chris Slade DE AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, TSN-1, FW-1,
WC-1, CPFW-2
1993 Mark Dixon G AP-1, UPI-1, FN-1, WC-1, FW-1,
CPFW-1, TSN-1
1994 Ronde Barber CB AP-3
1995 Percy Ellsworth S FN-1, AP-1
1995 Will Brice P FW-1, TSN-2
1995 Ronde Barber CB CSM-3
1995 Tiki Barber RB CSM-3
1995 Rafael Garcia PK CSM-3
1996 Rafael Garcia PK AP-2, TSN-2
1996 Ronde Barber CB FN-2, TSN-3
1996 Anthony Poindexter S TSN-2
1996 Tiki Barber RB FN-3
1996 Jamie Sharper LB FN-3
1997 Anthony Poindexter S TSN-1, AP-3
1998 Anthony Poindexter S AP-1, TSN-1, FW-1, FBD-1, FN-2
1998 Patrick Kerney DE FW-1, FN-1, FBD-1, AP-2, TSN-2
1998 Wali Rainer LB FN-2
1999 Thomas Jones RB FW-1, CBS-1, FBD-1, FN-1,WC-1,
TSN-1
1999 John St. Clair C CFBD-1, CNN-1, FN-2
1999 Noel LaMontagne G TSN-1
2001 Billy McMullen WR FN-3
2003 Heath Miller TE CFBN-3
2003 Connor Hughes PK CNN-3
2004 Elton Brown G AP-1, WC-1, TSN-1, FC-1, ESPN-1,
CNNSI-1
2004 Heath Miller TE AP-1, FW-1, WC-1, TSN-1, FC-1,
CFN-1, ESPN-1, CNNSI-1, CBS-1
2004 Ahmad Brooks LB TSN-1, AP-2
2005 D’Brickashaw Ferguson T AP-1, FW-1, TSN-1,AFCA-1, WC-1
CBS-1, CFN-1, ESPN-1, CNN-1
2007 Chris Long DE AP-1, FW-1, TSN-1, AFCA-1, WC-1,
CBS-1, CFN-1, RIV-1, ESPN-1
2007 Branden Albert G AP-3
2008 Eugene Monroe T AP-2, WC-2, RIV-2, TSN-2, CFN-3

Key to All-America Teams
AAFF – All-American Football Foundation
AFCA – American Football Coaches Association (previously Kodak)
AP – Associated Press
CBS – CBS Sportsline or CBSSports.com
CFD – College Football Digest
CFN – CollegeFootballNews.com
COL – Colliers Magazine
CNNSI – CNNSI.com
CPFN – College & Pro Football Newsweekly
CSTV – College Sports TV
FD – Football Digest
FN – The Football News
FWAA – Football Writers Association of America
INS – International News Service
K – Kodak
NEA – Newspaper Enterprise Association
RIV – Rivals.com
SHNS – Scripps Howard News Service
SN – The Sporting News
UPI – United Press International
WCFF – Walter Camp Football Foundation

First-Team All-American Bios

Jim Bakhtiar
1957 – FW
Jim Bakhtiar was an outstanding fullback, linebacker and kicker from 1955-57. Bakhtiar was selected to the Football Writers first-team All-America squad at fullback in 1957 after leading the ACC in rushing with 822 yards. He rushed for 2,434 yards and 13 touchdowns for his career and was the most dominant ballcarrier in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first decade. Upon completion of his career he was first in league history in rushing yards, rushing attempts and most 100-yard games.

Will Brice
1995 – FW
Will Brice was named a first-team All-America punter in 1995. He also was a second-team All-America selection by The Sporting News and first-team All-ACC selection. Brice’s All-America season was instrumental in leading the 1995 Cavaliers to a 9-4 record, a share of the ACC championship and a 34-27 victory over Georgia in the Peach Bowl. He had 17 punts of 50 yards or longer and he buried 26 punts inside the 20.

Ahmad Brooks
2004 – SN, CSTV
As a sophomore in 2004, Ahmad Brooks was one of three finalists for the Butkus Award. He led the team in tackling for the second year in a row (7.5/g) and earned first-team All-American honors from The Sporting News and CSTV. Brooks finished his career with 13 sacks, fourth most by a UVa linebacker, and 234 tackles. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2006 NFL Supplemental Draft.

Elton Brown
2004 – AFCA, WCFF
Elton Brown became just the third consensus All-American lineman in school history (joining T Jim Dombrowski in 1985 and G Mark Dixon in 1993) as a senior in 2004. That season, he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s top blocker in voting by the league’s head coaches for the second consecutive season. Brown started 39 games in his career and did not allow a sack during his senior season.

Mark Dixon
2004 – AP, UPI, FN, WCFF, FWAA, CPFN, SN
Mark Dixon earned consensus All-America honors at guard in 1993 as Virginia finished with a 7-5 record and played in the 1994 Carquest Bowl. He was also named a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 1993 and received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s best blocker. Dixon was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week as a senior following his performance in Virginia’s win over Georgia Tech.

Jim Dombrowski
1985 – AP, CPFN, FN, FWAA, K, SN, UPI
In 1985, Jim Dombrowski became UVa’s first-ever unanimous All-American. In addition, the tackle became only the fifth Cavalier gridder to have his number (73) retired. The two-time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (recognizing the ACC’s best blocker) helped lead UVa to three straight winning seasons and a 27-24 victory over Purdue in the 1984 Peach Bowl.

Bill Dudley
1941 – AP, UPI, INS, COL
As a 19-year-old senior in 1941, “Bullet” Bill Dudley he Virginia to a sparkling 8-1 record and had a hand in 206 of the 279 points that the Cavaliers scored. He led the nation that year in points scored (134) and finished second nationally in total offense (1,824 yards). A member of the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dudley became the first Cavalier to have his number (35) retired. He finished fifth in the 1941 Heisman balloting.

Percy Ellsworth
1995 – FN, AAFF
Percy Ellsworth became the first UVa defensive back to receive first-team All-America honors, earning that distinction in 1995. He tied for the team lead in interceptions (six) and pass breakups (12) in 1995 while leading UVa’s defensive backs with 68 total tackles. Ellsworth finished his Cavalier career with 10 interceptions, tying for 12th-most in UVa history. He helped the team to back-to-back nine-win seasons as a junior and senior, a share of the 1995 ACC championship and two bowl victories.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson
2005 – AP
D’Brickashaw Ferguson finished his Virginia career as the most decorated offensive lineman in school history. H3 was named a first-team All-American as a senior in 2005 and was an all-ACC pick as both a junior and senior. He started all 49 games in which he played, the most by an offensive lineman in school history. His 49 career starts are the second-most starts by an offensive lineman in ACC history and a figure topped by only 13 O-linemen in FBS history at the time his career ended.

Thomas Jones
1999 – AP, FN, FWAA, WCFF, SN, CPFN, CBS, FD, CFD
Thomas Jones was a consensus first-team All-American in 1999. He became the ACC’s first consensus All-America running back since 1978 and just the third in league history. He was UVa’s first consensus All-America offensive back since Bill Dudley in 1941 and the eighth consensus All-American in school history. Jones finished eighth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. He established ACC and UVa records with 1,798 yards rushing and 2,054 all-purpose yards as a senior. Jones ranked third in the nation in rushing (163.5 ypg) and all-purpose yards (186.7 ypg), while his four 200-yard rushing games led the nation.

Patrick Kerney
1998 – FN, FWAA
A first-team All-ACC selection, Kerney finished second in balloting for the 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year by one vote to fellow Cavalier All-American Anthony Poindexter. Kerney was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Award. He became the first Cavalier defensive end to earn first-team All-America honors since Chris Slade in 1992. Kerney led the ACC and ranked second in the nation in quarterback sacks in 1998 with 15. He finished second in the conference and 10th nationally with 21 tackles for loss.

Noel LaMontagne
1999 – SN
Noel LaMontagnewas recognized as a first-team All-American in 1999 and earned first-team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive year that season. He and center John St. Clair became the first two UVa offensive linemen to win first-team All-America distinction in the same season. A 1999 tri-captain, LaMontagne also won the Jim Tatum Award, given annually to the top student-athlete among the ACC’s senior football players. He helped open holes all season long for consensus All-America tailback Thomas Jones, who rushed for an ACC-record 1,798 yards.

Chris Long
2007 – AP, AFCA, SN, WCFF, FWAA, CBS, RIV, AAFF
In 2007 defensive end Chris Long became just the third unanimous All-American in Virginia history and the 11th player to receive consensus All-America status. He was named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year and won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s outstanding defensive end. He was also a finalist for the Nagorski Trophy, Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy. He finished third in the nation with 14 sacks and finished 10th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Eugene “Buck” Mayer
1915 – INS
Eugene “Buck” Mayer became the first player from a Southern school to earn first-team All-America honors, gaining that distinction in 1915. In one of his best individual performances, he scored five touchdowns in a 74-0 win over Richmond in 1915. The Cavaliers went on to post an 8-1 record that year, losing only to Harvard. Mayer captained UVa’s 1914 squad and helped lead Virginia to a four-year record of 39-6 record from 1912-15. During his career, he scored 46 touchdowns and 293 points, records that stood for more than 80 years.

Heath Miller
2004 – AFCA, AP, WCFF, FWAA, SN
Heath Miller rewrote the UVa and ACC record books during a stellar three-year career with 144 passes for 1,703 yards and 20 touchdowns, all records for a tight end. He capped his UVa career in 2004 by winning the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end, becoming Virginia’s first major award winner since 1941. He became the second unanimous All-American in school history (Jim Dombrowski, 1985). The first unanimous All-American tight end in ACC history, he became the first UVa tight end to earn first-team All-ACC recognition twice.

Herman Moore
1990 – AP, UPI, SN, FN, FWAA
Herman Moore, half of UVa’s highly-touted “Moore to Moore” pass-catch combination, was named a first-team All-American in 1990. Moore also was a unanimous first-team All-ACC selection in 1990 and finished sixth that season in the Heisman Trophy balloting. While at Virginia, he became the all-time ACC leader for most receiving yards in a season with 1,190 in 1990. He finished his career as the NCAA record-holder for most consecutive games in a season with a touchdown reception (nine in 1990) and most yards per catch in a career (22.0 average). Moore established UVa career records for most touchdown receptions (27) and most receiving yards (2,504).

Shawn Moore
1990 – AFCA, FW
Shawn Moore quarterbacked UVa to two New Year’s Day Bowl appearances and a share of the school’s first-ever ACC championship. Virginia’s all-time passing and total offense leader set over 30 combined NCAA, conference and school records. Moore became the first ACC quarterback to lead the nation in passing efficiency (160.7) in 1990 while completing 144 of 241 passes for 2,262 yards and 21 touchdowns. Moore finished fourth in balloting for the 1990 Heisman Trophy, capturing more votes than any other player in ACC history at that time and was the ACC Player of the Year.

Joe Palumbo
1951 – AP, NEA
Joe Palumbo is considered the best defensive guard in Cavalier football history. During his three varsity seasons (1949-51), Virginia posted a 23-5 mark and recorded seven shutouts. Palumbo captained head coach Art Guepe’s 1951 squad and was a first-team All-America selection that season. In 1951, He is one of six Cavaliers to have his number (48) retired. Palumbo was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in August of 1999.

John Papit
1949 – NEA
John Papit earned All-America honors in 1949. He was a rare fullback who had the speed and shiftiness to go all the way anytime he carried the ball. As a member of the 1947-50 teams, he was always the leading rusher. His best game was a 224-yard effort against Washington & Lee in 1948, which still stands as UVa’s single-game rushing record. In 1949, he rushed for 1,214 yards which was Virginia’s single-season rushing record until broken by Barry Word (1,224) in 1985. He is Virginia’s fourth all-time leading rusher with 537 carries for 3,238 yards.

Anthony Poindexter
1997 – SN
1998 – FWAA, AP, SN, CPFN
Anthony Poindexter earned first-team All-America honors as a defensive back in 1997 and 1998, just the only two-time first-team All-Americans in UVa history. The 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Poindexter became only the third player in school history to earn first-team All-Conference honors three times. The two-time team captain led UVa in a number of statistical categories, including tackles (73, 10.4 per game), interceptions (3), fumbles recovered (2) and fumbles caused (2). His three quarterback sacks in 1998 marked the most ever by a Cavalier defensive back. He finished his career ranked seventh in school history with 342 tackles.

Ray Roberts
1991 -SHNS, K
Ray Roberts started on three bowl teams and an ACC championship team at UVa. He culminated his outstanding Cavalier career as a senior in 1991, gaining first-team All-America status. Roberts was a first-team all-ACC selection and received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s best blocker in each of his last two seasons. In 1990, the team captain blocked for an offense that scored a then ACC-record 442 points.

Ray Savage
1989 -K
Ray Savage earned All-America honors at defensive end/outside linebacker in 1989 as a member of one of the most successful teams in Cavalier football history. Led by Savage’s brilliant defensive play, the 1989 Cavaliers rolled up a school-record 10 victories, earned a share of Virginia’s first-ever ACC championship and met Illinois in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl. Savage finished the 1989 season with 91 tackles, including 49 solo stops and one quarterback sack. He finished his outstanding career ranked fourth among UVa’s all-time leading tacklers with 302 total stops.

Tom Scott
1952 – AP, NEA
Tom Scott was UVa’s first two-sport All-American (in football and lacrosse). He was a standout two-way end on the Cavalier football team, leading UVa to a superb three-year record of 24-5 from 1950-52. Virginia finished the 1951 season with an 8-1 record and ranked 13th nationally in The Associated Press’ final Top-20 poll. As a senior in 1952, Scott helped lead Virginia to an 8-2 record and was selected an All-American. He also was a member of Virginia’s National Champion lacrosse team in 1952 and was an All-America defenseman in 1953.

Chris Slade
1992 – AP, UPI, FN, SN, FWAA, WCFF
1991 – CPFN
Chris Slade was the first UVa player to earn first-team All-America honors for two seasons (1991 and 1992). He set Virginia and ACC career records for quarterback sacks with 40, including 31 unassisted. A team captain in 1992, Slade was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 by Football News and was a first-team All-America selection in both 1991 and 1992 Slade was named Defensive MVP of the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl after posting a game-high 11 tackles. Slade finished fifth on UVa’s list for career tackles with 299.

John St. Clair
1999 -CNNSI, CFN
John St. Clair became the first center in school history to win first-team All-America distinction in 1999. He and OG/T Noel LaMontagne are the first two UVa offensive linemen to win first-team All-America honors in the same season. St. Clair also received the 1999 Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the best blocker in the ACC. His play was instrumental in clearing the way for consensus All-America tailback Thomas Jones, who rushed for an ACC-record 1,798 yards. St. Clair also started at center in 1998, helping UVa lead the ACC in rushing offense (213.1 yards per game).