Washington Highlights UVA Honors from Phil Steele

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington added to his collection of All-America honors, garnering second team accolades from Phil Steele. Wideout Malachi Fields, safety Jonas Sanker and linebacker James Jackson were recognized as All-ACC performers.

UVA Phil Steele Postseason Honors

Malik Washington – Second Team All-America, First Team All-ACC
Malachi Fields – Second Team All-ACC
Jonas Sanker – Second Team All-ACC
James Jackson – Fourth Team All-ACC

Washington has been listed on 12 All-America teams published by various college football publications. He amassed an ACC record 110 receptions and a UVA record 1,426 yards after coming to UVA as a graduate transfer from Northwestern. Washington surpassed UVA’s single-season receptions and receiving yards records in 11 games. His 110 receptions and school-record 10 100-yard receiving games led all FBS pass catchers. Washington caught nine touchdowns, including multi-TD games against NC State and Duke. He accounted for the go-ahead score in UVA’s 31-27 victory over then-No. 10 North Carolina on Oct. 22. Washington was recognized as a semifinalist the Biletnikoff Award and finalist for the Pop Warner College Football Award.

Sanker garnered earned First Team All-ACC honors from the league’s coaches as well as the Associated Press at safety at the conclusion of the regular season. The Touchdown Club of Richmond named him the state of Virginia’s Defensive back of the Year. His 6.1 solo tackles per game led the ACC and were the second most in the country. He compiled 107 tackles (8.9 tackles per game), the third-most in the league and the most by a UVA defensive back since Quin Blanding in 2017. Sanker was credited with 10 passes defended, tied for the sixth-most in the ACC.

Fields teamed up with Washington to become the most productive wide receiver duo in program history. The junior caught 58 passes and accumulated 811 receiving yards to go along with five touchdowns receptions. He ranked in the top-five in the league in receiving yards (4th), receiving yards per game (5th – 67.6), receptions (6th) and receptions per game (7th – 4.83). Fields had 60 or more receiving yards in 11 of 12 games this season and 39 of his 58 receptions went for first downs.

Jackson started all 12 games at inside linebacker and was second on the team behind Sanker with 80 tackles (34 solo). His 6.7 tackles per game ranked in the top-15 in the ACC. He added a sack four tackles for loss, an interception and seven quarterback hurries in a career year. He was named the ACC Linebacker of the Week on Oct. 21 after he had the game-sealing interception with 26 seconds left against then-No. 10 North Carolina on Oct. 21. He added six tackles and had a pair of QB hurries in the contest

2023 UVA All-Americans
WR Malik Washington – Action Network (2nd); Associated Press (2nd); College Football Network (1st); Fox Sports (2nd); FWAA (2nd); Phil Steele (2nd); Pro Football Focus (2nd), Sports Illustrated (2nd); Sports Info Solutions (2nd); Walter Camp Football Foundation (2nd), AFCA (2nd), ESPN (2nd).

LB Kam Robinson – 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team (1st); On3 True Freshman All-America Team (1st); College Football Network (1st); The Athletic (2nd); College Football News (2nd).

Anthony Colandrea – 247Sports True Freshman All-America Team (1st); College Football Network (HM).Freshman All-America Team (1st); College Football Network (HM).