Eight Cavaliers earn All-ACC team honors

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Senior cornerback Chase Minnifield, senior defensive tackle Matt Conrath and senior offensive guard Austin Pasztor earned first-team All-ACC honors to headline the eight Virginia football players named to the All-ACC squad.

Junior offensive tackle Oday Aboushi and junior linebacker Steve Greer garnered second-team All-ACC recognition. Junior tailback Perry Jones, senior safety Rodney McLeod and senior center Anthony Mihota received honorable mentions.

The combined five selections to the top two All-ACC teams and the eight total All-ACC mentions are the most for Virginia since the 2004 season saw the Cavaliers earn seven and eight selections, respectively.

Minnifield, one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award - given to the top defensive back in college football - earned his second consecutive first-team All-ACC honor and continues to strengthen his case as a top-50 selection in the 2012 NFL Draft. He has 50 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three interceptions and one blocked kick this season.

Conrath has recorded 64 tackles, is tied for the team lead with 11 tackles for loss and also has two sacks, two forced fumbles and three blocked kicks on the year. Pasztor has helped the Cavaliers compile 1,984 rushing yards and has not surrendered a single sack in 781 offensive plays this season.

-compiled by Matt Welsh