/
.
Six Cavaliers Honored on Phil Steele's Midseason All-ACC Team
Story Links
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Phil Steele has released his Midseason All-ACC team and six Cavaliers were mentioned on his list. Raynard Horne headlines the honorees as a first team member at kick return. Listed on the second team are Austin Pasztor (OG) and Chase Minnifield (CB). Rounding out the sextuplet on the third team are Keith Payne (RB), Kris Burd (WR) and Cam Johnson (DE).
Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is one of the nation’s most informative preseason football magazine and has always released preseason, midseason and postseason All-American teams as well as all-conference teams.
Horne (Baltimore, Md.) leads the ACC in kick return yardage with 440 yards and a 27.5 yards per return average. His 87-yard return for a touchdown against VMI is one of four kick returns for a TD in the league this season and was UVa’s 12th-longest return in program history.
On the offensive line Pasztor (Langton, Ontario) has helped the UVa offense to be more productive in 2010 versus the 2009 campaign. Through six games the Cavaliers are seventh in the ACC in total offense (384.8 yards per game) after ranking last in the league in 2009.
Minnifield (Lexington, Ky.) ranks No. 2 in the ACC and tied for No. 9 nationally with 0.50 interceptions per game. He ranks tied for third in the league in passes defended with seven.
Payne (Herndon, Va.) ranks No. 9 in the ACC in rushing with 67.0 yards per game despite splitting time in the backfield. He ranks first in the league with eight rushing touchdowns, which also eclipsed the highest individual output by a Cavalier in all of 2009.
Burd (Matoaca, Va.) ranks No. 6 in the ACC with 69.7 receiving yards per game. He has brought down 28 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns. He caught TD passes in each of the first four games, marking the first time for such a streak since Heath Miller scored receiving touchdowns in the first five games of 2002 for the Cavaliers.
Johnson (Greenbelt, Md.) made the move from linebacker to defensive end for the 2010 season and has been a major defensive asset for the Cavaliers. He ranks second on the team with 30 tackles, with a team-high 9.5 tackles for a loss, including a team-high 5.0 sacks. His sack totals rank him No. 4 in the ACC. He also has picked up two fumbles.