With the 2024 college football season quickly approaching, preseason watch lists for various awards are being announced. Several Virginia football players have already been named to watch lists for positional awards in anticipation of the outstanding seasons these players could have this fall.

Experienced wide receiver Malachi Fields was one of 50 players named to the preseason watch list for the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the most outstanding pass receiver in college football regardless of position. Fields received honorable mention All-ACC in 2023, a season in which he ranked second on the team with 58 receptions and 811 receiving yards and ranked fourth in the ACC with 67.6 receiving yards per game.

Defensive End in sixth year Kam Butler was one of 67 players on the waiting list for Comeback Player of the Year, as announced by College Sports Communicators, Associated Press and Fiesta Bowl Organization. The award has been given annually since 2018 to recognize players who have overcome injury, illness or other circumstances. Last season, UVA running back Mike Hollins was one of three recipients of the Comeback Player of the Year award. Butler suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Virginia’s fourth game of the season. Despite playing fewer than four complete games, Butler recorded 23 total tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Punter in the fifth year Daniel Sparksan All-ACC selection in 2022, was placed on the waiting list for the third consecutive year for the Ray Guy Award, which is given to the best punter in college football. The junior kicker Will Bettridge was named to the nominee list for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List, which recognizes community involvement among FBS college football players.

Last week, Senior Safety Jonas Sankerwho is coming off the First-Team All-ACC 2023 season, was named to the 2024 Preseason All-ACC Team as well as to the nominees for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given annually to the National Defensive Player of the Year, and the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the best defensive back in college football.

In addition, eight Virginia Cavaliers were named to the Shrine Bowl 1000, a list of the best college football players eligible for next year’s East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL Draft: Chico Bennett, Chris Tyree, Daniel Sparks, Jahmeer Carter, Jonas Sanker, Kam Butler, Malachi Fields and Tyler Neville.

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