Virginia’s Quin Blanding and Micah Kiser named first-team All-ACC

The Virginia Cavaliers saw many things change in 2017. Multiple conference wins. Wins on the road. Bowl eligibility.

But one thing stayed the same from previous seasons: Quin Blanding and Micah Kiser as the two-chambered heart of the orange and blue defense.

The ACC media honored both with the same result as in years past, with both the safety and the linebacker hauling in first-team All-ACC selections for the third year in a row.

Only three Cavaliers have previously won first-team all-conference honors in three consecutive seasons: Jim Dombrowski from 1983 to 1985; Ronde Barber, 1994 to 1996; and Anthony Poindexter, 1996 to 1998. Blanding also became only the second UVA football player to be selected to one all-conference team all four seasons on Grounds; the other was punter Will Brice.

Blanding and Kiser also finished one-two in the ACC in tackles this season, their third straight year accomplishing that feat as well. Blanding also finished second in the conference in tackles as a first-year, making it four straight seasons as the conference’s second-leading tackler.

Other All-ACC honorees included wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and punter Lester Coleman on the second team, cornerback Juan Thornhill on the third team, and linebacker Chris Peace and kick returner Joe Reed both named honorable mention.