| The votes are in, and our panel of experts (read: me) has finalized its selections for UVa's All-Decade Team for 1990-1999. The leading vote-getters on defense are below. Offense can be found here; special teams can be found here; and final cuts can be found here. |
| Defense |
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| Defensive End - Chris Slade |
| Chris Slade was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in UVa history. He is Virginia's all-time leader in sacks (40) and tackles for loss (56), and his 299 tackles rank 15th on Virginia's all-time list (and second among defensive linemen). Slade's 15 sacks in 1992 are tied with Patrick Kerney for the most in a single season, and his 14 sacks in 1991 are tied with Chris Long for the next spot on the list. Slade also set the single season record with 21 tackles for loss in 1991, a mark he shares with Mike Frederick, Patrick Kerney and Chris Long, and his 20 tackles for loss in 1992 are the second-most in school history. Slade earned All-ACC honors in 1990 (1st Team), 1991 (2nd Team), and 1992 (1st Team). He was a first-team All-America selection in both 1991 and 1992, becoming the first UVa player to earn 1st Team honors for two seasons. As a senior in 1992, Slade was a team captain and was named Defensive Player of the Year by Football News. |
| Defensive Tackle - Todd White |
| White was solid against the run and gave the Hoos a playmaker up front. As a sophomore in 1994, White finished with 69 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with seven sacks. In 1995, White was first among UVa defensive linemen with 77 tackles and had eight tackles for loss, four sacks, and was named 2nd Team All-ACC. As a senior in 1996, White was selected co-captain and had another strong season, finishing with 39 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks and once again earning 2nd Team All-ACC honors. White finished his career with 13 sacks (15th on UVa's all-time list and third most among defensive tackles) and 27 tackles for loss (15th most in school history and second most of any defensive tackle). |
| Defensive Tackle - Antonio Dingle |
| Like Todd White, Dingle could not only stuff the run, he was also capable of pressuring the quarterback. After posting three sacks in part-time duty his freshman year, Dingle started all 12 games as a sophomore and finished with 49 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown) and a blocked field goal, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC Honors. Dingle had his finest season in 1997, finishing with 48 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and two sacks, and being named 1st Team All-ACC. As a senior, Dingle posted 34 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks, and was named Honorable Mention All-ACC. |
| Outside Linebacker - Jamie Sharper |
| After being voted 3rd Team Freshman All-American by Football News in 1993, Sharper was selected to the All-ACC Team each of the next three seasons (2nd Team in 1994, Honorable Mention in 1995, and 1st Team in 1996). As a senior, Sharper had 123 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and an interception. For his efforts, he was named 3rd Team All-American by Football News and was a semifinalist for the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, the Dick Butkus Award, and the Football News Defensive Player of the Year Award. Sharper finished his career as Virginia's all-time leader in tackles, a distinction he still holds, and he ranks seventh all-time in tackles for loss with 41. |
| Middle Linebacker - Wali Rainer |
| Outside Linebacker - James Farrior |
| Farrior teamed with Jamie Sharper to give the Hoos a devastating one- two punch at linebacker in the mid-1990s. As a sophomore in 1994, “Potsie” finished with 100 tackles and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. Farrior was even better as a junior in 1995, finishing with a team- leading 122 tackles (the 11th highest total in school history) and being named 2nd Team All-ACC. As a senior, Farrior had 107 tackles (including 13 tackles for loss) and a career-high eight sacks, picked off two passes (returning one for a touchdown), and earned 2nd Team All- ACC honors for the second consecutive season. Farrior finished his career with 381 tackles, with ranks fifth on UVa's all-time list. |
| Cornerback - Ronde Barber |
| Barber was a defensive force for the Hoos from day one, picking off an ACC-leading eight passes and earning 1st Team All-ACC honors as a redshirt freshman in 1994. In addition, Barber was named ACC Rookie of the Year, becoming only the second Cavalier to earn that distinction. As a sophomore in 1995, Barber had four interceptions and once again was named 1st Team All-ACC. In 1996, Barber picked off three passes and earned 1st Team All-ACC honors for a third consecutive season. Barber also earned All-America honors all three seasons at UVa (1994 – AP, 3rd Team; 1995 – CSM, 3rd Team; 1996 – Football News, 2nd Team and The Sporting News, 3rd Team). Barber finished his career with 15 interceptions, tied with Marcus Hamilton for third on Virginia's all-time list. |
| Cornerback - Joe Crocker |
| Crocker earned three letters with the Hoos (1993-1995) and started 23 of 25 games his junior and senior seasons. As a junior in 1994, Crocker picked off six passes, returning one for a touchdown, and was named Honorable Mention All-ACC. In 1995, Crocker had four interceptions and again earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. Crocker finished his career with 12 interceptions, tied for sixth most in UVa history. |
| Safety - Anthony Poindexter |
| Regarded as one of the fiercest hitters in UVa history, Poindexter had an immediate impact as a freshman in 1995, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors and helping to stop Warrick Dunn on the last play of the game in the victory over Florida State. He then proceeded to make 1st Team All-ACC the next three seasons, becoming one of only three players in school history to accomplish that feat. Poindexter was a team captain in 1997 and 1998, and was voted the 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, Poindexter earned All-America honors as a sophomore (2nd Team by The Sporting News), junior (1st Team by The Sporting News, 3rd Team by the AP) and senior (1st Team by the AP, The Sporting News, Football Writers' Association of America, Football Digest, and Football News). Poindexter still holds the UVa record for most career fumble recoveries (seven) and most interceptions in a game (three). He is tied for sixth on UVa's all-time interception list with 12, and he is 10th on the all-time tackle list with 342 (tops among defensive backs). Poindexter's jersey was retired by Virginia in 2009. |
| Safety - Percy Ellsworth |
| Ellsworth lettered all four seasons at UVa (1992-1995), starting a total of 31 games, including 25 straight games his junior and senior seasons. As a senior in 1995, Ellsworth tied for the team lead in interceptions (six) and pass breakups (12), and led all UVa defensive backs in tackles (68). For his efforts, Ellsworth was named 1st Team All-ACC and became the first UVa defensive back to receive 1st Team All-America honors. Ellsworth finished his career with 10 interceptions, tied for 12th-most in UVa history. |
| Rainer was a dominant force in the middle on some of the best UVa defenses in recent memory. Rainer showed promise as a sophomore in 1996, finishing with 66 tackles, two sacks, and five tackles for loss. He took his play to another level as a junior in 1997, leading UVa in tackles (118), sacks (nine, tied for 9th most all-time) and tackles for loss (15, tied for 9th all-time) and earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. As a senior, Rainer racked up 134 tackles, the fourth highest total in UVa history, along with 11 tackles for loss and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He was selected 1st Team All-ACC and earned 2nd Team All-America honors from Football News. Rainer finished his career with 347 tackles (9th on Virginia’s all- time list), 16 sacks (tied for 11th), and 32 tackles for loss (tied with Patrick Kerney for 11th). |
| Defensive End - Patrick Kerney |
| In just a few short years, Kerney made the transition from lax player to football walk-on to All-America defensive end. After putting up just one sack his first two seasons, Kerney broke out with eight sacks (tied for 14th most in school history) as a junior in 1997, earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors. Kerney then wreaked absolute havoc as a senior, posting an ACC-leading 15 sacks (second in the nation and tied with Chris Slade for the most in school history) and 21 tackles for loss (second in the ACC, 10th nationally, and tied with Chris Slade, Mike Frederick, and Chris Long for the most in school history). For his efforts, Kerney was selected 1st Team All-ACC, and he finished second in balloting for the 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year by one vote to fellow Cavalier Anthony Poindexter. In addition, Kerney was selected 1st Team All-America by the Football Writers' Association of America, Football News and Football Digest, and 2nd Team All-America by the AP and The Sporting News. |
