The Shadow
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia’s McKale Boley (offensive line), Noah Josey (offensive line), Kam Robinson (linebacker) and Daniel Sparks (punter) have been named to the All-ACC Preseason Football Team, the conference office announced Wednesday (July 29). The quartet was selected by media members attending the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff.
Virginia’s four preseason All-ACC selections are the most in program history since the league began announcing a preseason all-conference team in 2005.
A 2026 Phil Steele First Team Preseason All-ACC selection, Boley enters his fifth season at UVA with 36 career starts, including an active streak across his last 22 appearances. Against Stanford last year, Boley produced the highest Pro Football Focus (PFF) pass blocking grade (91.9) and the second-highest overall grade (91.1) of any offensive lineman in the country in Week 4, when the Cavaliers tallied 590 yards of total offense. For his efforts, he was also named ACC Lineman of the Week.
Josey, a 2026 Phil Steele Second Team Preseason All-ACC selection, leads all active UVA players with 43 career starts, all of which have come in his last 43 appearances. Josey delivered the lead block that sprung former UVA tailback J’Mari Taylor for a touchdown on a direct snap in overtime of its 30-27 win at Louisville last year.
Last season, Boley and Josey helped UVA’s offense achieve its best rushing output (178.7) since 2004.
A 2026 Phil Steele First Team Preseason All-ACC selection, Robinson led the Cavaliers in tackles per game (8.0) last season before suffering a season-ending injury in UVA’s eighth game of the season, a 34-17 win at Duke. He became the only FBS player in the last 20 years to record a blocked punt, an interception return for touchdown and a fumble recovery in the same season (according to Sports-Reference.com). Against Washington State, Robinson also recorded a late-game safety to break a tied score and proved to be the game-winning score.
Sparks, a Phil Steele Second Team Preseason All-ACC honoree, is the ACC’s top returning punter. He set the program’s single-season average of 47.2 yards per boot in 2025 and enters the 2026 season as the program’s current career leader (44.8). He also set the program’s single game record with an average of 53 yards per punt in UVA’s 22-20 dramatic comeback over Washington State last season.
Additionally, the ACC announced Tuesday (July 28) that Virginia, the league’s only team to post a 7-1 conference record last season, was picked to finish sixth in the 2026 preseason poll.
Virginia opens the 2026 season by hosting NC State on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 3:30 p.m. The game will air live on ESPN.
The ACC enters the 2026 season as the league begins its transition to a nine-game conference schedule. The season culminates with the 2026 ACC Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 5, at noon on ABC.
2026 All-ACC Preseason Football Team
Offense
QB: Darian Mensah, Miami (112) *
RB: Mark Fletcher, Jr., Miami (127)
RB: Isaac Brown, Louisville (94)
WR: Malachi Toney, Miami (164)
WR: Duce Robinson, Florida State (131)
WR: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (64)
TE: Jeremiah Hasley, Duke (61)
AP: Malachi Toney, Miami (94)
OT: PJ Williams, SMU (96)
OT: McKale Boley, Virginia (77)
OG: Noah Josey, Virginia (71)
OG: Samson Okunlola, Miami (53)
C: Josh Bates, SMU (64)
Defense
DE: Will Heldt, Clemson (87)
DE: Clev Lubin, Louisville (79)
DT: Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami (126)
DT: Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech (89)
LB: Sammy Brown, Clemson (139)
LB: Kam Robinson, Virginia (98)
LB: Mohamed Toure, Miami (64)
CB: Ashton Hampton, Clemson (81)
CB: Chris Peal, Syracuse (45)
S: Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami (86)
S: KP Price, Boston College (45)
Specialists
PK: Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech (105)
P: Daniel Sparks, Virginia (48)
SP: Malachi Toney, Miami (104)
Votes by position in parentheses
*Preseason Player of the Year
188 media voters
2026 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year
Rank, Name, Position, School
1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (97)
2. Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU (25)
3. Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville (16)
4. CJ Bailey, QB, NC State (15)
5. Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State (12)
6. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson (11)
7. Kam Robinson, LB, Virginia (5)
8. Will Heldt, DE, Clemson (4)
9. Mason Heintschel, QB, Pitt (3)
Votes in parentheses
188 media voters
Offense
QB: Darian Mensah, Miami (112) *
RB: Mark Fletcher, Jr., Miami (127)
RB: Isaac Brown, Louisville (94)
WR: Malachi Toney, Miami (164)
WR: Duce Robinson, Florida State (131)
WR: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (64)
TE: Jeremiah Hasley, Duke (61)
AP: Malachi Toney, Miami (94)
OT: PJ Williams, SMU (96)
OT: McKale Boley, Virginia (77)
OG: Noah Josey, Virginia (71)
OG: Samson Okunlola, Miami (53)
C: Josh Bates, SMU (64)
Defense
DE: Will Heldt, Clemson (87)
DE: Clev Lubin, Louisville (79)
DT: Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami (126)
DT: Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech (89)
LB: Sammy Brown, Clemson (139)
LB: Kam Robinson, Virginia (98)
LB: Mohamed Toure, Miami (64)
CB: Ashton Hampton, Clemson (81)
CB: Chris Peal, Syracuse (45)
S: Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami (86)
S: KP Price, Boston College (45)
Specialists
PK: Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech (105)
P: Daniel Sparks, Virginia (48)
SP: Malachi Toney, Miami (104)
Votes by position in parentheses
*Preseason Player of the Year
188 media voters
2026 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year
Rank, Name, Position, School
1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (97)
2. Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU (25)
3. Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville (16)
4. CJ Bailey, QB, NC State (15)
5. Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State (12)
6. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson (11)
7. Kam Robinson, LB, Virginia (5)
8. Will Heldt, DE, Clemson (4)
9. Mason Heintschel, QB, Pitt (3)
Votes in parentheses
188 media voters
FAN-FIRST FOUR-PACK
For the first three games of the 2026 season, secure a discounted rate on single-game orders of 4-10 seats in select seating areas—upper and lower-level options are included.
For the first three games of the 2026 season, secure a discounted rate on single-game orders of 4-10 seats in select seating areas—upper and lower-level options are included.
SEASON TICKETS
Season-ticket renewals are now available for the 2026 season! Season tickets secure your seats for all seven home games starting at $180 per seat.
Season-ticket renewals are now available for the 2026 season! Season tickets secure your seats for all seven home games starting at $180 per seat.
FAMILY FOUR-PACK
Bring the whole family to Scott Stadium all season long with the Family Four Pack, starting at $560 for four season tickets. Bring up to 10 family and friends and secure our greatest discounted rate.
Bring the whole family to Scott Stadium all season long with the Family Four Pack, starting at $560 for four season tickets. Bring up to 10 family and friends and secure our greatest discounted rate.
UVA FACULTY/STAFF AND ALUMNI DISCOUNTED TICKETS
Current full-time UVA faculty and staff, young alumni (within five years of graduation) and contributing members of the Alumni Association are eligible for a 20% discount. Call the UVA Ticket Office at 434-924-8821 and provide your computing ID.
Current full-time UVA faculty and staff, young alumni (within five years of graduation) and contributing members of the Alumni Association are eligible for a 20% discount. Call the UVA Ticket Office at 434-924-8821 and provide your computing ID.
DIGITAL SEASON PARKING PASSES
Virginia Athletics and Virginia Athletics Foundation (VAF) have transitioned to digital parking passes for all permit-required parking areas serving home football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball games.
Virginia Athletics and Virginia Athletics Foundation (VAF) have transitioned to digital parking passes for all permit-required parking areas serving home football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball games.
Mobile parking passes, available through fans’ online ticket accounts at UVATix.com and the Virginia Sports mobile app, provide a more convenient and flexible gameday experience while improving parking operations, traffic flow and account management. The transition applies only to permit-required parking areas; public parking lots that do not require permits remain unchanged. Fans can find parking maps, step-by-step instructions and frequently asked questions by visiting the UVA’s digital ticketing page.
