Cavalier Trio Headlines VaSID All-State Honors

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A total of six Cavaliers garnered All-State honors from Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID). Malik Washington was named the state’s Offensive Player of the Year while quarterback Anthony Colandrea and Kam Robinson swept Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Washington was also voted a First Team All-State honoree while Jonas Sanker was a unanimous First Team All-State honoree at safety. Wide receiver Malachi Fields and offensive lineman Brian Stevens were listed as Second Team All-State selections.

A Cavalier claimed the state’s Offensive Player of the Year honors for the fourth time in the last six years. Colandrea is the first Cavalier ever to claim offensive Rookie of the Year honors from VaSID and Robinson is the first VaSID Defensive Rookie of the Year since 2017 (Brenton Nelson).

Washington, an All-America pick by 13 different publications, caught 110 passes for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns. The 110 receptions led the country and were UVA and ACC single-season records. Washington was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round (184th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Colandrea made six starts under center for the Cavaliers and appeared in eight games. He accounted for a team-best, 2,183 yards of total offense (1,958 pass, 225 rush) and threw for 13 touchdowns (ninth-most among ACC quarterbacks). His 1,958 passing yards were the most among any Power-5, true freshman signal callers.

Robinson received Freshman All-America nods from four different publications after making 71 stops (46 solo) in his first season on grounds. He added a sack and two interceptions, including one that went back for a touchdown against Louisville on Nov. 9. His 5.9 tackles per game were the fourth most by any true freshman in the country.

Sanker was a First Team All-ACC selection at safety and was named the TD Club of Richmond Defensive Back of the Year. The Charlottesville native started all 12 games for the Cavaliers in 2023 accumulating a team-high 107 tackles, 11 pass breakups and recovered two fumbles. His 6.1 solo tackles per game were the most in the ACC and the fourth-most in FBS.

Fields bounced back from a season-ending injury in 2022 to have a career-year in 2023. The Charlottesville native hauled in 58 catches for 811 yards, combining with Washington to be one of the top wide receiving duos in college football. Fields scored five touchdowns and averaged 13.98 yards per reception, the 11th-highest in the ACC.

The versatile Stevens earned honorable mention All-ACC accolades after starting all 12 games up front for the Cavaliers, two at guard and 10 at center. He sported the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade (77.3) for centers in the country and was the top-graded run-blocking center in the ACC.

2023 VaSID University Division All-State Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Malik Washington, Virginia
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Green, James Madison
Special Teams Player of the Year: John Love, Virginia Tech
Coach of the Year: Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Anthony Colandrea, Virginia
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Kam Robinson, Virginia

First Team – Offense
QB – Jordan McCloud, James Madison
RB – Quinton Cooley, Liberty *
RB – Hunter Rice, VMI
WR – Nick DeGennaro, Richmond *
WR – Elijah Sarratt, James Madison
WR – Malik Washington, Virginia
TE – Zach Horton, James Madison
TE – Aidan Twombley, VMI
OL – Xavier Chaplin, Virginia Tech
OL – Ryan Coll, Richmond
OL – X’Zauvea Gadlin, Liberty *
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL – Tyler Stephens, James Madison
OL – Jordan White, Liberty

First Team – Defense
DL – James Carpenter, James Madson
DL – Jalen Green, James Madison *
DL – Jamree Kromah, James Madison
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
DL – Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
LB – Tyren Dupree, Liberty
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB – John Pius, William & Mary
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond *
CB – D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison
CB – Kobe Singleton, Liberty
S – Brylan Green, Liberty
S – Jonas Sanker, Virginia *

First Team – Special Teams
PK – Caden Bonoffski, William & Mary
PK – John Love, Virginia Tech
P – Jack Culbreath, VMI
KR – Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
PR – Josh Sarratt, James Madison
LS – Nick Levy, William & Mary
SPEC – Jabril Hayes, Richmond

Second Team – Offense
QB – Kaidon Salter, Liberty
RB – Malachi Imoh, William & Mary
RB – Bhayshul Tuten, VMI
WR – Reggie Brown, James Madison
WR – CJ Daniels, Liberty
WR – Malachi Fields, Virginia
TE – Sean McElwain, William & Mary
OL – Jonathan Graham, Liberty
OL – Brandon Hardy, Hampton
OL – Ryan McKenna, William & Mary
OL – Cole Potts, James Madison
OL – Brian Stevens, Virginia

Second Team – Defense
DL – CJ Bazile, Liberty
DL – Mikail Kamara, James Madison
DL – Marlem Louis, Richmond
DL – Denzel Lowry, Old Dominion
LB – Aidan Fisher, James Madison
LB – Wayne Matthews, Old Dominion
LB – AJ Richardson, Norfolk State
LB – Qwahsin Townsel, Hampton
CB – Ryan Poole, William & Mary
CB – Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
S – Aaron Banks, Richmond
S – Evan Eller, VMI

Second Team – Special Teams
PK – Camden Wise, James Madison
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison
P – Will Whitehurst, William & Mary
KR – Aaron Bedgood, Liberty
KR – DJ Barksdale, James Madison
LS – Justin Peterson, VMI

* – Unanimous First Team All-State (receiving max 9 First-Team votes)