Sparks Named ACC co-Specialist of the Week

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia punter Daniel Sparks was named the Atlantic Coast Conference co-specialist of the of the Week on Tuesday (Nov. 15). Sparks was honored for the first time in his career and is the second UVA specialist to take home ACC weekly honors.

Against Pitt on Saturday, Sparks punted eight times for a total of 409 yards, including a long of 63, one of three 60-yard punts on the afternoon. He’s the first UVA punter ever to accumulate three punts of 60 or more yards in a game. Sparks leads the ACC in punting average (45.93) and ranks fifth nationally. He now has 14 punts of 50-or-more yards, which is 30 percent of his total punts this season.

Sparks is the first UVA punter since Mike Abrams in 2001 to win the ACC Specialist of the Week award.

ACC Players of the Week (Nov. 15)
QB – Drake Maye, North Carolina
RB – Trey Benson, Florida State
WR – Josh Downs, North Carolina
OL – Maurice Smith, Florida State
Co-DL – Marcus Valdez, Boston College & Calijah Kancey, Pitt
LB – Barrett Carter, Clemson
DB – Kamren Kinchens, Miami
Co-Specialist – Lou Hedley, Miami & Daniel Sparks, Virginia
Rookie – Emmett Morehead, Boston College

2022 Virginia ACC Player of the Week Honors
Sept. 16 – Brendan Farrell (Specialist)
Sept. 23 – Chico Bennett (Defensive Line)
Oct. 24 – Chico Bennett (Defensive Line)
Nov. 15 – Daniel Sparks (Specialist)