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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Two Virginia football players were named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football team, announced Monday, including one first-team selection.

Cornerback Chase Minnifield was named to the first team, while running back Keith Payne earned second-team accolades. Minnifield became the first UVa defensive back to garner first-team honors since Anthony Poindexter in 1998. Payne becomes the first running back to be named to either the first or second team since Alvin Pearman took home first-team honors in 2004.

Minnifield, a junior, finished the regular season No. 2 in the ACC and No. 6 nationally with six interceptions. Twice during the season he was named honorable mention for the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week honor. He also shared ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors on Nov. 1 with teammate Corey Mosley after snaring two interceptions in UVa’s 24-19 upset of Miami. The Lexington, Ky., native finished the season No. 8 on the team with 48 tackles. He also broke up four passes and recorded 0.5 sacks.

Payne, a senior, concluded his collegiate career leading the ACC in scoring at 8.7 points per game with a league-best 16 total touchdowns. His 14 rushing scores is a mark that is No. 3 all-time in the UVa annals and second-most since the end of World War II. He led all UVa rushers with 749 yards and amassed three 100-yard games, including 114 yards in his 2010 debut against Richmond – his first action since 2008. Payne also equaled the record for most rushing touchdowns in a game during the modern UVa era with four. The Herndon, Va., native set his career standard with 121 yards at Duke and also reached the century mark in rushing against North Carolina with 107 yards.

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