In 2023, Sanker was named a First Team All-ACC selection by both the conference office and the Associated Press. He led the Cavaliers in total tackles (107), pass breakups (11) and forced fumbles (3). Sanker also led UVA in tackles in eight of its 12 games last season, including when he recorded a career-high12 tackles against James Madison and Boston College.
Sanker is one of 19 ACC defensive student-athletes to be represented on the list.
Candidates are listed below in alphabetical order by school.
| First Name | Last Name | School | Class | Position |
| CJ | Nunnally, IV | Akron | Senior | DE |
| Deontae | Lawson | Alabama | Junior | LB |
| Malachi | Moore | Alabama | Senior | S |
| Tacario | Davis | Arizona | Junior | CB |
| Landon | Jackson | Arkansas | Senior | DE |
| Eugene | Asante | Auburn | Senior | LB |
| Ahmed | Hassanein | Boise State | Senior | DE |
| Jordan | Oladokun | Bowling Green | Senior | CB |
| Tyler | Batty | BYU | Senior | DE |
| Dontay | Corleone | Cincinnati | Junior | DT |
| Peter | Woods | Clemson | Sophomore | DT |
| Barrett | Carter | Clemson | Senior | LB |
| B.J. | Green | Colorado | Senior | ED |
| Travis | Hunter | Colorado | Junior | CB |
| Tre | Freeman | Duke | Junior | LB |
| Shavon | Revel | East Carolina | Senior | CB |
| Shemar | James | Florida | Junior | LB |
| Patrick | Payton | Florida State | Junior | DE |
| Joshua | Farmer | Florida State | Junior | DT |
| Mykel | Williams | Georgia | Junior | DE |
| Smael | Mondon | Georgia | Senior | LB |
| Malaki | Starks | Georgia | Junior | S |
| Sebastian | Castro | Iowa | Senior | DB |
| Jay | Higgins | Iowa | Senior | LB |
| Nick | Jackson | Iowa | Senior | LB |
| Jeremiah | Cooper | Iowa State | Junior | S |
| Cobee | Bryant | Kansas | Senior | CB |
| Austin | Moore | Kansas State | Senior | LB |
| Maxwell | Hairston | Kentucky | Junior | CB |
| Deone | Walker | Kentucky | Junior | DT |
| Quincy | Riley | Louisville | Senior | CB |
| Ashton | Gillotte | Louisville | Senior | DE |
| Harold | Perkins | LSU | Junior | LB |
| Chandler | Martin | Memphis | Junior | LB |
| Rueben | Bain, Jr. | Miami | Sophomore | DE |
| Francisco | Mauigoa | Miami | Senior | LB |
| Matt | Salopek | Miami (OH) | Senior | LB |
| Will | Johnson | Michigan | Junior | CB |
| Mason | Graham | Michigan | Junior | DT |
| Kenneth | Grant | Michigan | Junior | DT |
| Cody | Lindenberg | Minnesota | Senior | LB |
| Johnny | Walker Jr. | Missouri | Senior | ED |
| Colin | Ramos |