​2016 All-ACC Preseason Football Team Announced
Clemson leads with 10 selections; Florida State is next with five
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Defending league champion Clemson leads all schools with 10 selections to the 2016 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Football Team announced on Wednesday.
 
The team was selected by a vote of 191 media members who were credentialed for last week’s ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte.
 
Clemson junior quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was voted to repeat as ACC Preseason Player of the Year by the Kickoff media, is joined on the All-ACC offensive preseason team by Tiger wide receiver Artavis Scott, tight end Jordan Leggett, offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt, offensive guard Tyrone Crowder, center Jay Guillermo and placekicker Greg Huegel. Defensive tackle Carlos Watkins, linebacker Ben Boulware and cornerback Cordrea Tankersely are Clemson’s defensive selections. 
 
Florida State placed five student-athletes on the 2016 All-ACC preseason team, while Louisville and North Carolina each had three selected.
 
Watson, who in 2015 became the first player in FBS history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 more, is joined in the preseason All-ACC backfield by Florida State junior Dalvin Cook and North Carolina junior Elijah Hood.
 
FSU’s Cook was the 2015 recipient of the Jim Brown Award – given to the nation’s top running back by the Touchdown Club of Columbus – after setting school single-season records for rushing yards (1,691) and all-purpose yards (1,935). UNC’s Hood rushed for 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. His single-season rushing total was the second-highest ever by a Tar Heel.
 
Clemson’s Scott is joined on the preseason All-ACC wide receiving corps by fellow juniors Isaiah Ford of Virginia Tech and Travis Rudolph of Florida State. The trio combined for 227 catches, 2,981 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2015.
 
Preseason All-ACC tight end recognition goes to Clemson’s Leggett, who was a John Mackey Award finalist last season with 40 catches for 525 yards and eight touchdowns . He is joined on the offensive line by Florida State’s Roderick Johnson and Clemson teammate Hyatt at tackle. Clemson’s Tyrone Crowder and Pitt’s Dorian Johnson man the offensive guard spots, while the Tigers’ Guillermo was selected at the center position.
 
Florida State senior DeMarcus Walker and Pitt redshirt senior Ejuan Price were the choices at defensive end, while Clemson’s Watkins and Louisville’s DeAngelo Brown received nods at defensive tackle. Price led the ACC and ranked eighth nationally with 0.88 quarterback sacks per game (11.5 total) last season.
 
Clemson’s Boulware and the Louisville senior duo of Keith Kelsey and Devonte Fields fill the linebacker slots. Fields led the NCAA last season in tackles for loss per game (1.73), and Kelsey ranked among the ACC leaders in total tackles with 107.
 
The secondary features a pair of senior cornerbacks in Clemson’s Tankersley and North Carolina Des Lawrence. Florida State safety Derwin James is joined at safety by Virginia junior Quin Blanding, the 2014 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Tankersley’s five interceptions last season tied for second in the conference, and Blanding ranked second in tackles per game with 9.6.
 
The special teams include Clemson’s Huegel, a redshirt sophomore. Miami senior Justin Vogel earned the spot at punter, while North Carolina senior Ryan Switzer is a repeat choice as return specialist. Switzer enters his final season with an ACC-record seven punt returns for touchdowns and is one shy of the NCAA mark.
 
Watson led the overall voting, being chosen by 188 of the 191 media members casting ballots. Florida State’s Cook was named by 184 voters, and the Seminoles’ Johnson was named on 153 ballots.
 
Others reaching or topping the century mark were Clemson’s Boulware (149), Florida State’s Walker (142), Clemson’s Watkins (132), Guillermo (124), Tankersley (115) and Scott (112), Virginia Tech’s Ford (112), Florida State’s James (112), North Carolina’s Switzer (112), Virginia’s Blanding (107), Pitt’s Johnson (107) and Price (102), and Miami’s Vogel (100).
 
Watson, Scott, Roderick Johnson, Blanding and Switzer are repeat selections from the 2015 All-ACC preseason team.
 
2016 All-ACC Preseason Football Team
 
Offense
WR – Artavis Scott, Jr., Clemson
WR – Isaiah Ford, Jr., Virginia Tech
WR – Travis Rudolph, Jr. Florida State
TE – Jordan Leggett, Sr., Clemson
OT – Roderick Johnson, Jr., Florida State
OT – Mitch Hyatt, So., Clemson
OG – Dorian Johnson, Sr., Pitt
OG – Tyrone Crowder, Jr., Clemson
C – Jay Guillermo, r-Sr., Clemson
QB – Deshaun Watson, Jr., Clemson
RB – Dalvin Cook, Jr., Florida State
RB – Elijah Hood, Jr., North Carolina
 
Defense
DE – DeMarcus Walker, Sr., Florida State
DE – Ejuan Price, r-Sr., Pitt
DT – Carlos Watkins, r-Sr., Clemson
DT – DeAngelo Brown, Sr., Louisville
LB – Ben Boulware, Sr., Clemson
LB – Keith Kelsey, Sr., Louisville
LB – Devonte Fields, Sr., Louisville
CB – Cordrea Tankersley, Sr., Clemson
CB – Des Lawrence, Sr., North Carolina
S – Derwin James, So., Florida State
S – Quin Blanding, Jr., Virginia
 
Special Teams
PK – Greg Huegel, r-So., Clemson
P – Justin Vogel, Sr., Miami
SP – Ryan Switzer, So., North Carolina
 
2016 All-ACC Preseason Team Voting
 
Quarterback
Deshaun Watson, Clemson 188; Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina 1; Brad Kaaya, Miami 1; Lamar Jackson, Louisville 1.
 
Running Back
Dalvin Cook, Florida State 184; Elijah Hood, North Carolina 97; Wayne Gallman, Clemson 70; Matthew Dayes, NC State 8; Taquan Mizzell, Virginia 7; Travon McMillian, Virginia Tech 4; Qadree Ollison, Pitt 3; Joe Yearby, Miami 3; Jon Hilliman, Boston College 3; Mark Walton, Miami 1; Marcus Marshall, Georgia Tech 1; Brandon Ratcliff, Louisville 1. 
 
Wide Receiver
Artavis Scott, Clemson 112; Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech 112; Travis Rudolph, Florida State 94; Mike Williams, Clemson 80; Ryan Switzer, North Carolina 42; Mack Hollins, North Carolina 27; James Quick, Louisville 23; Stacy Coley, Miami 23; Kermit Whitefield, Florida State 15; Jamari Staples, Louisville 13; Bug Howard, North Carolina 11; Jesus Wilson, Florida State 6; Bra’Lon Cherry, NC State 5; Tabari Hines, Wake Forest 3; Anthony Nash, Duke 2; Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech 2; Olamide Zaccheaus, Virginia 1; Steve Ishmael, Syracuse 1; T.J. Rahming, Duke 1. 
 
Tight End
Jordan Leggett, Clemson 89; Jaylen Samuels, NC State 41; Bucky Hodges, Virginia Tech 34; Cam Serigne, Wake Forest 7; Ryan Izzo, Florida State 6; David Njoku, Miami 4; Cole Hikutini, Louisville 4; Brandon Fritts, North Carolina 3; Daniel Helm, Duke 2; Scott Orndoff, Pitt 1. 
 
Offensive Tackle
Roderick Johnson, Florida State 153; Mitch Hyatt, Clemson 82; Adam Bisnowaty, Pitt 70; Jon Heck, North Carolina 39; Trevor Darling, Miami 13; Casey Blaser, Duke 8; Eric Smith, Virginia 5; Jonathan McLaughlin, Virginia Tech 4; Geron Christian, Louisville 3; Yosuah Nijman, Virginia Tech 2; Bentley Spain, North Carolina 1; Gabe Brandner, Duke 1; Justin Herron, Wake Forest 1.
 
Offensive Guard
Dorian Johnson, Pitt 107; Tyrone Crowder, Clemson 82; Caleb Peterson, North Carolina 77; Kareem Are, Florida State 32; Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech 13; Danny Isidora, Miami 13; Tony Adams, NC State 12; Wilson Bell, Florida State 12; Tanner Stone, Duke 11; KC McDermott, Miami 11; Augie Conte, Virginia Tech 8; Omari Palmer, Syracuse 4. 
 
Center
Jay Guillermo, Clemson 124; Lucas Crowley, North Carolina 13; Jackson Matteo, Virginia 11; Freddie Burden, Georgia Tech 10; Nick Linder, Miami 8; Alec Eberle, Florida State 8; Alex Officer, Pitt 5; Joe Sceflo, NC State 4; Jason Emerich, Syracuse 3; Jon Baker, Boston College 3; Eric Gallo, Virginia Tech 2.
 
Defensive End
DeMarcus Walker, Florida State 142; Ejuan Price, Pitt 102; Josh Sweat, Florida State 33; Ken Ekanem, Virginia Tech 23; Al-Quadin Muhammad, Miami 16; Harold Landry, Boston College 15; Bradley Chubb, NC State 12; KeShun Freeman, Georgia Tech 10; Mikey Bart, North Carolina 8; Kevin Kavalec, Boston College 6; Andrew Brown, Virginia 5; Dajaun Drennon, North Carolina 5; Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest 5. 
 
Defensive Tackle
Carlos Watkins, Clemson 132; DeAngelo Brown, Louisville 56; Derrick Nnadi, Florida State 48; Christian Wilkins, Clemson 41; Nazair Jones, North Carolina 31; Patrick Gamble, Georgia Tech 21; Demarcus Christmas, Florida State 15; Josh Banks, Wake Forest 8; Woody Baron, Virginia Tech 7; B.J. Hill, NC State 5; Mike Ramsay, Duke 5; Truman Gutapfel, Boston College 5; A.J. Wolf, Duke 4; Donte Wilkins, Virginia 4. 
 
Linebacker
Ben Boulware, Clemson 149; Keith Kelsey, Louisville 99; Devonte Fields, Louisville 96; Micah Kiser, Virginia 84; Matt Milano, Boston College 49; Ro’Derrick Hoskins, Florida State 20; Zaire Franklin, Syracuse 13; Marquel Lee, Wake Forest 11; Connor Strachan, Boston College 9; P.J. Davis, Georgia Tech 9; Jermaine Grace, Miami 8; Matt Galambos, Pitt 7; Ben Humphreys, Duke 7; Mike Caprara, Pitt 5; Andrew Motuapuaka, Virginia Tech 3; Airius Moore, NC State 3; Brant Mitchell, Georgia Tech 1. 
 
Cornerback
Cordrea Tankersley, Clemson 115; Des Lawrence, North Carolina 62; Marquez White, Florida State 54; DeVon Edwards, Duke 43; M.J. Stewart, North Carolina 33; Shaq Wiggins, Louisville 20; Corn Elder, Miami 19; Brad Watson, Wake Forest 10; Tim Harris, Virginia 7; Breon Borders, Duke 6; Jack Tocho, NC State 5; Avonte Maddox, Pitt 4; Sheldrick Redwine, Miami 4.
 
Safety
Derwin James, Florida State 112; Quin Blanding, Virginia 107; Jordan Whitehead, Pitt 51; Josh Harvey-Clemons, Louisville 37; Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami 18; Chuck Clark, Virginia Tech 11; Donnie Miles, North Carolina 10; John Johnson, Boston College 9; Trey Marshall, Florida State 8; Josh Jones, NC State 6; Ryan Janvion, Wake Forest 5; Deondre Singleton, Duke 4; A.J. Gray, Georgia Tech 2; Antwan Cody, Syracuse 2. 
 
Placekicker
Greg Huegel, Clemson 63; Michael Badgley, Miami 41; Nick Weiler, North Carolina 39; Harrison Butker, Georgia Tech 16; Chris Blewitt, Pitt 12; Joey Slye, Virginia Tech 11; Mike Weaver, Wake Forest 7; Cole Murphy, Syracuse 2.
 
Punter
Justin Vogel, Miami 100; Nicholas Conte, Virginia 60; A.J. Cole III, NC State 20; Ryan Winslow, Pitt 11.
 
Specialist
Ryan Switzer, North Carolina 112; DeVon Edwards, Duke 40; Kermit Whitfield, Florida State 16; Corn Elder, Miami 8; Brisly Estime, Syracuse 6; T.J. Logan, North Carolina 4; Nyheim Hines, NC State 3; Michael Walker, Boston College 1; Olamide Zaccheaus, Virginia 1.

Press Release Source: theACC.com

​Clemson Leads ACC Football Kickoff Preseason Poll
North Carolina selected to repeat as Coastal Division winner;
Tigers’ Deshaun Watson tabbed to repeat as Player of the Year
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Clemson is the preseason favorite to repeat as  Atlantic Coast Conference football champion, according to a poll of  191 media members in attendance at last week’s 2016 ACC Football Kickoff in Charlotte.
 
The Tigers, who posted a 14-1 overall record last season and reached the College Football Playoff national title game, are also picked to again capture the Atlantic Division, while North Carolina is favored to repeat as the Coastal Division winner. 
 
Clemson junior quarterback Deshaun Watson was the overwhelming choice to repeat as ACC Player of the Year after his record-setting 2015 campaign. Watson was also the media’s preseason selection as conference player of the year last season.
 
The Tigers were picked the likely 2016 ACC champions on 144 ballots, followed by Florida State with 39 votes and North Carolina with seven. One voter chose Louisville. 
 
In the Atlantic Division preseason voting, Clemson received 148 first-place votes and finished with 1,293 total points. Florida State received 42 first-place votes and placed second with 1,176 points, while Louisville had one first-place vote and was third in the voting with 961 points.
 
NC State (704 total points) was tabbed for a fourth-place Atlantic Division finish, followed by Boston College (441), Syracuse (426) and Wake Forest (347).
 
North Carolina was selected the likely Coastal winner by 121 voters and finished with 1,238 total points, followed by Miami with 50 first-place votes and 1,108 points. Pitt received 14 first-place votes and was third in the balloting with 859 points.
 
Virginia Tech (three first-place votes) placed fourth with 697 points, followed by Duke (597), Georgia Tech (588) and Virginia (261). Two voters chose Duke to claim the Coastal Division, while one gave Georgia Tech the nod.
 
If the overall prediction of the voters proves correct, the 2016 ACC Dr Pepper Football Championship on December 3 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium will be a rematch of last year’s event. Clemson defeated North Carolina 45-37 for the 2015 ACC title after both teams posted 8-0 records in conference play during the regular season.
 
Watson will lead a Clemson offense that also returns talented running back Wayne Gallman, leading receiver Artavis Scott, and steady offensive linemen Jay Guillermo, Mitch Hyatt and Tyrone Crowder. Linebacker Ben Boulware leads a group of five returning defensive starters. The Tigers, who have won at least 10 games each of the past five seasons, will seek their 16th ACC championship in 2016.
 
Watson led the preseason ACC Player of the Year balloting with 164 votes, followed by Florida State running back Dalvin Cook with 18. North Carolina running back Elijah Hood received four votes, while Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson picked up two votes apiece. Duke cornerback/return specialist DeVon Edwards received one vote.
 
Watson captured both the Davey O’Brien and Manning Awards as the nation’s top quarterback in 2015 after throwing for 4,104 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for 1,105 yards and 12 more TDs. The Gainesville, Georgia, native became the first player in FBS history to amass 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season.
 
The ACC Male Athlete of the Year and the MVP of both the Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game and the Capital One Orange Bowl, Watson ranked fifth nationally in pass completion percentage (67.8) and was voted the ACC Offensive Back of the Week four times in 2015. Watson is bidding to become the first student-athlete to be named ACC Football Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons since Florida State’s Charlie Ward in 1992-93.
 
ACC Championship Votes
1.       Clemson - 144
2.       Florida State - 39
3.       North Carolina - 7
4.       Louisville - 1
 
Atlantic Division  
(First place votes in parenthesis)                        
1.       Clemson (148) – 1,293
2.       Florida State (42) – 1,176
3.       Louisville (1) - 961
4.       NC State - 704
5.       Boston College - 441
6.       Syracuse  - 426
7.       Wake Forest - 347
 
Coastal Division
(First place votes in parenthesis)                        
1.       North Carolina (121) – 1,238
2.       Miami (50) – 1,108
3.       Pitt (14) - 859
4.       Virginia Tech (3) - 697 
5.       Duke (2) - 597
6.       Georgia Tech (1) -588
7.       Virginia -261
 
ACC Player of the Year
1.       Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson - 164
2.       Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State - 18
3.       Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina - 4
t-4. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami - 2
t-4. Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville - 2
5.       DeVon Edwards, CB/KR, Duke - 1

Press Release Source: theACC.com

             GREENSBORO, N.C.—The Atlantic Coast Conference had five tight ends named to the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which is given annually to the top tight end in the nation.
 
            The total preseason watch list of 46 collegiate tight ends was announced Wednesday by the Friends of John Mackey.
 
            The 2013 Mackey Award winner hailed from the ACC in former Florida State tight end Nick O’Leary. O’Leary was the fourth player from a current ACC school to win the Mackey. He was preceded by Clemson’s Dwayne Allen, the 2011 award-winner; Virginia’s Heath Miller (2004) and Miami’s Kellen Winslow (2003), who earned his honor just prior to the Hurricanes joining the conference.
 
            Additionally, Mackey himself played for a current ACC school at Syracuse (1960-62).
 
            ACC student-athletes on the Mackey Award watch list include Louisville senior Cole Hikutini (Sacramento, Calif.), Virginia Tech redshirt junior Bucky Hodges (Virginia Beach, Va.); Florida State redshirt sophomore Ryan Izzo (Highland Lakes, N.J.); Clemson senior Jordan Leggett (Navarre, Fla.) and Wake Forest redshirt junior Cam Serigne (Ashburn, Va.).
 
            Hodges, Leggett and Serigne are all repeat members from last year’s 2015 Mackey Award preseason watch list.
 
            The award recipient is selected by vote of the John Mackey Award Selection Committee and the 2016 Mackey recipient will be announced on Dec. 7, and then presented live on Dec. 8 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. All future announcements can be found at www.johnmackeyaward.com.
 
            NFL Hall of Fame member John Mackey is considered to be the best to have played the tight end position. A tight end by whom all others are measured, Mackey was a role model on and off the field as demonstrated by his Super Bowl Championship, his commitment to community and his place in history as the first president of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).
 
The ACC members of the 2016 preseason John Mackey Watch List are:
 
Player                                         School                          Ht.         Wt.        Cl.              Hometown                
Cole Hikutini                             Louisville                      6-5         240        Sr.               Sacramento, Calif.
Bucky Hodges                          Virginia Tech              6-7         245        Jr.-R           Virginia Beach, Va.
Ryan Izzo                                   Florida State                6-5         243        So.-R         Highland Lakes, N.J.
Jordan Leggett                          Clemson                        6-5         255        Sr.               Navarre, Fla.
Cam Serigne                              Wake Forest                6-3         245        Jr.-R           Ashburn, Va.

Press Release Source: theACC.com

​Atlantic Coast Conference Has 15 Selected To the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List
ACC Leads All Conferences in Preseason Maxwell Selections
 
         GREENSBORO, N.C.—The Atlantic Coast Conference had 15 players selected for the Maxwell Award preseason watch list--the most of any conference nationally--the Maxwell Club announced Tuesday. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate football player.
         
         In all, 90 players were named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list. Clemson led all ACC teams with three selections in QB Deshaun Watson, RB Wayne Gallman and WR Mike Williams. Watson was one of two 2015 Maxwell Award finalists named to this year’s preseason watch list. 
         
         Miami, with QB Brad Kaaya and RB Joe Yearby, and Virginia Tech, with WR Isaiah Ford and RB Travon McMillian, each had two nominees.
 
         Eleven of the 14 ACC schools had at least one player chosen for the Maxwell Award preseason watch list, and 12 ACC schools had at least one player chosen for either the Maxwell or the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Year preseason watch list, which was also announced Tuesday. A total of 30 ACC players were chosen for both watch lists, with Clemson leading all ACC schools with six selections.
 
         The last player from a current ACC school to win the Maxwell Award was Miami QB Ken Dorsey in 2001. The last ACC player to capture the Maxwell Award was Florida State QB Charlie Ward in 1993.
 
The ACC Members of the 2016 preseason Maxwell Award preseason watch list are:
 
Name                                  School                Pos.    Ht.    Wt.       Cl.        Hometown
James Conner                     Pitt                      RB      6-2    240        Jr.-R     Erie, Pa.
Dalvin Cook                        Florida State       RB      5-11  206        Jr.        Miami, Fla.
Matt Dayes                         NC State             RB      5-9    203        Sr.        Weston, Fla.
Isaiah Ford                          Virginia Tech      WR     6-2    190        Jr.        Jacksonville, Fla.
Wayne Gallman                  Clemson             RB      6-1    215        Jr.-R     Loganville, Ga.
Elijah Hood                         North Carolina   RB      6-0    229        Jr.        Charlotte, N.C.
Lamar Jackson                    Louisville            QB      6-3    196        So.       Boynton Beach, Fla.
Brad Kaaya                         Miami                QB      6-4    210        Jr.        Los Angeles, Calif.
Travon McMillian               Virginia Tech      RB      6-0    200        S0.-R    Woodbridge, Va.
Taquan Mizzell                   Virginia              RB      5-10  200        Sr.        Virginia Beach, Va.
Thomas Sirk                        Duke                   QB      6-4    220        Sr.-R    Glen St. Mary, Fla.
Justin Thomas                     Georgia Tech     QB      5-11  185        Sr.-R    Prattville, Ala.
Deshaun Watson                Clemson             QB      6-2    210        Jr.        Gainesville, Ga.
Mike Williams                    Clemson             WR     6-4    220        Jr.-R     Vance, S.C.
Joe Yearby                          Miami                RB      5-9    202        Jr.        Miami, Fla.  

Press Release Source: theACC.com

Press Release Source: theACC.com

Press Release Source: theACC.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – ACC Player of the Year Malcolm Brogdon of Virginia leads the 2015-16 Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) postseason basketball awards and all-conference team announced on Sunday.

Brogdon, who was also voted the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, was named the overall ACC Player of the Year by 38 of the 51 ACSMA members casting ballots. The group also chose Duke’s Brandon Ingram as the ACC Freshman of the Year. 

Miami’s Jim Larrañaga was voted the ACC Coach of the Year, while North Carolina junior Isaiah Hicks earns recognition as Sixth Man of the Year. Clemson junior Jaron Blossomgame was voted the ACC’s Most Improved Player.

Brogdon and North Carolina senior Brice Johnson are unanimous choices to the All-ACC first team. They are joined by NC State junior Anthony “Cat” Barber, Duke sophomore Grayson Allen and Clemson’s Blossomgame.

A redshirt senior from Atlanta, Brogdon led the Cavaliers to a 24-6 overall record, a 13-5 ACC mark and the No. 2 seed for this week’s New York Life ACC Tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.  He enters the ACC Tournament as the league’s fourth-leading scorer at 18.4 points and ranks 10th in field goal percentage (.474).

Brogdon ranks second among ACC free-throw shooters (.878 percent) and made 42 consecutive from the foul line late in the season. He leads a Virginia defensive unit that has limited opponents to an ACC-low 59.6 points per game and ranks fourth in field goal percentage defense (.416 percent).

North Carolina’s Johnson leads the ACC in rebounding (10.8) and field goal percentage (.606) while ranking sixth in scoring at 16.8 points per game. He led the Tar Heels (25-6, 14-4 ACC) to the regular-season title with a league-leading 19 double-doubles (12 in ACC play) and has posted two games with more than 20 rebounds.

NC State’s Barber leads the conference in scoring at 23.4 points per game and has scored 30-or-more points an ACC-leading eight times this season. The junior guard also ranks among the conference leaders in assists (4.3) per game while pulling down 4.6 rebounds and playing a league-leading 38.7 minutes per game.

Duke’s Allen ranks second among ACC scorers with 21.5 points per game, fourth in 3-point shooting (.423 percent) and eighth in overall shooting from the floor (.475 percent).  He joins Virginia’s Brogdon and North Carolina’s Johnson as an Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist after scoring in double figures in 29 games (20 straight entering the ACC Tournament).

Clemson’s Blossomgame averages 18.6 points per game to rank third in the conference and has scored 20-or-more points in 15 games. Blossomgame’s big scoring nights have included games of 33 and 31 points. Blossomgame ranks among the ACC leaders in field goal percentage (.516) and is averaging 6.7 rebounds per game.

Syracuse’s Michael Gbinije (17.6 ppg, 4.5 apg) Miami’s Sheldon McClellan (15.7 ppg, .852 FT percentage), Notre Dame’s Demetrius Jackson (15.9 ppg, 4.97 apg), Louisville’s Damion Lee (15.7 ppg, .843 FT percentage) and Duke’s Ingram (16.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) comprise the ACSMA All-ACC second team.

Georgia Tech’s Marcus Georges-Hunt (16.6 ppg, 18.1 ppg in ACC play), Virginia’s Anthony Gill (13.6 ppg, .556 FG percentage), Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste (14.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Pitt’s Michael Young (16.1 ppg, 54 percent shooting from the floor) and Miami’s Angel Rodriguez (11.6 ppg, 4.3 apg) earned third-team All-ACC honors in the ACSMA voting.

After being overwhelmingly chosen as the ACC preseason Freshman of the Year by the league’s media members last October, Duke’s Ingram lived up to his billing by ranking seventh among conference scorers (16.7 ppg) and 14th in rebounding (6.8) and ninth in blocked shots (1.42).  Ingram is the third consecutive Duke player and the fourth in the last five years to be recognized as ACSMA’s ACC Freshman of the Year.

Miami’s Larrañaga was chosen the ACC Coach of the Year for the second time in his five years with the Hurricanes. Miami (24-6 overall) shared second place in the final ACC standings and enters the ACC Tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Hurricanes went 9-0 in home conference games and were 5-2 against fellow ranked teams. Miami is currently ranked seventh nationally and has been ranked among the nation’s top 15 a school-record 12 weeks this season.

Hicks helped North Carolina to its regular-season first-place finish by averaging 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting .606 percent from the floor and .757 percent from the foul line. Hicks has come off of the bench in 28 of the Tar Heels’ 31 games while averaging 18.1 minutes.

Duke’s Ingram is joined on the All-ACC Freshman Team by Florida State’s Dwayne Bacon (15.8 ppg) and Malik Beasley (15.7 ppg), Syracuse’s Malachi Richardson (13.2 ppg) and Wake Forest’s Bryant Crawford (13.6 ppg).

Miami’s Tonye Jekiri, Syracuse’s Gbinije, Clemson’s Landry Nnoko and Louisville’s Chinanu Onuaku join Brogdon on the 2015-16 All-ACC Defensive Team.


2015-16 ACSMA All-ACC Teams
(First-place votes, followed by total points)

All-Atlantic Coast Conference
First Team
Brice Johnson, Sr., North Carolina    51        *255
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia        51        *255
Cat Barber, Jr., NC State        48        249
Grayson Allen, So., Duke       47        247
Jaron Blossomgame, Jr., Clemson     32        213


Second Team
Michael Gbinije, Sr., Syracuse          8          155
Sheldon McClellan, Sr., Miami         6          136
Demetrius Jackson, Jr., Notre Dame 3          130
Brandon Ingram, Fr., Duke    4          129
Damion Lee, Sr., Louisville   1          90


Third Team
Marcus Georges-Hunt, Sr., Georgia Tech     -           76
Anthony Gill, Sr., Virginia    -           70
Zach Auguste, Sr., Notre Dame         -           45
Michael Young, Jr., Pittsburgh          -           37
Angel Rodriguez, Sr., Miami 3          35


Honorable Mention:
Justin Jackson, North Carolina; Tonye Jekiri, Miami; Zach LeDay, Virginia Tech; Chinanu Onuaku, Louisville; Marcus Paige, North Carolina; London Perrantes, Virginia; Devin Thomas, Wake Forest.


All-ACC Freshman Team
Brandon Ingram, Duke           *51
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State 50
Malik Beasley, Florida State 49
Malachi Richardson, Syracuse           34
Bryant Crawford, Wake Forest          28


All-ACC Defensive Team
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia        49
Tonye Jekiri, Sr., Miami        39
Michael Gbinije, Sr., Syracuse          36
Landry Nnoko, Sr., Clemson  30
Chinanu Onuaku, So., Louisville       27


ACC Player of the Year
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia        38
Brice Johnson, Sr., North Carolina    9
Cat Barber, Jr., NC State        3
Grayson Allen, So., Duke       1


ACC Freshman of the Year
Brandon Ingram, Duke           48
Dwayne Bacon, Florida State 1
Malik Beasley, Florida State 1
Malachi Richardson, Syracuse           1


ACC Coach of the Year
Jim Larrañaga, Miami            24
Buzz Williams, Virginia Tech           22
Tony Bennett, Virginia          2
Roy Williams, North Carolina           1
Brad Brownell, Clemson        1
Brian Gregory, Georgia Tech 1


ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Malcolm Brogdon, Sr., Virginia        39
Tonye Jekiri, Sr., Miami        9
Michael Gbinije, Sr., Syracuse          1
Marshall Plumlee, Sr., Duke  1
Chinanu Onuaku, So., Louisville       1


ACC Most Improved Player of the Year
Jaron Blossomgame, Jr., Clemson     21
Grayson Allen, So., Duke       15
Cat Barber, Jr., NC State        4
Zach LeDay, Jr., Virginia Tech          4
Ja'Quan Newton, So., Miami 2
Joel Berry, So., North Carolina          2
Marcus Georges-Hunt, Sr., Georgia Tech     1
Dennis Clifford, Sr., Boston College 1
Chinanu Onuaku, So., Louisville       1


ACC Sixth Man of the Year
Isaiah Hicks, Jr., North Carolina        19
Ja'Quan Newton, So., Miami 12
Luke Kennard, Fr., Duke        7
Tyler Lydon, Fr., Syracuse     6
Devon Bookert, Sr., Florida State      6
Sheldon Jeter, Jr., Pittsburgh 1


* Unanimous selection

Press Release Source: theACC.com

Press Release Source: theACC.com

Thuney, Kiser, Edwards, Wolf Head 62nd Annual All-ACC Academic Football Team
       
        GREENSBORO, N.C.—NC State first-team All-American offensive tackle Joe Thuney, who was one of the semifinalists for the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame’s William V. Campbell Trophy, Virginia linebacker Micah Kiser, who led the ACC in tackles, Duke safety DeVon Edwards, who led the ACC in kickoff return average, and Blue Devil defensive tackle A.J. Wolf, who was named a CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American, head the 56-person 2015 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team announced Wednesday by Commissioner John Swofford.
 
        To be eligible for consideration for the team, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his undergraduate academic career. Graduate students needed to maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average for both the previous semester and for their graduate school careers.
 
        All 14 ACC schools were represented on the team. The ACC has selected an All-ACC Academic Football team every year since 1954.
 
        The team was chosen from a pool of 140 ACC football student-athletes who were nominated by their schools.
 
        Thuney, a redshirt senior from Centerville, Ohio, earned first-team All-American honors from USA Today. Thuney, Kiser and Edwards were among the 11 members of the team who earned first-, second- or third-team All-ACC honors. Thuney, Kiser and Edwards were all named first-team All-ACC by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).
 
        Kiser, a sophomore linebacker from Baltimore, Md., led the ACC in tackles, averaging 9.8 hits a game. Edwards, a junior from Covington, Ga., averaged 29.2 yards a kickoff return with three returns for TDs. He was selected first-team All-ACC specialist by ACSMA.
 
        Wolf, a junior from Greenwich, Conn., led three members of the team who earned CoSiDA Academic All-American honors. Wolf earned selection to the first team,  while Edwards and Duke senior placekicker Ross Martin (Solon, Ohio) were each named second-team CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
       
        Edwards, Martin and Wolf were among 13 Blue Devils selected for the team, the most of any ACC school. Virginia was next with six selections, followed by Pitt with five; and Miami, Syracuse and Virginia Tech with four each. 
 
        In addition to Thuney, three other members of the team were named semifinalists for the NFF’s William V. Campbell Trophy—the nation’s academic Heisman. Joining him were Martin, Virginia placekicker Ian Frye (Bristol., Va.) and Wake Forest senior linebacker Hunter Williams (Wake Forest, N.C.).
 
        Besides Thuney receiving first-team All-America accolades, four other members of the team were named honorable mention All-Americans by SI.com, in Edwards, Martin, Clemson junior linebacker Ben Boulware (Anderson, S.C.) and North Carolina sophomore running back Elijah Hood (Charlotte, N.C.).
 
        Two members of the team, Pitt safety Jordan Whitehead (Aliquippa, Pa.), the ACC’s Rookie of the Year, and Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (Springfield Mass.) earned first-team Freshman All-American honors. Three others were honorable mention Freshman All-Americans in Duke linebacker Tinashe Bere (Cincinnati, Ohio), Louisville offensive tackle Geron Christian (Ocala, Fla.) and Georgia Tech freshman running back Marcus Marshall (Raleigh, N.C.).                           
 
        In all, 11 members of the All-ACC Academic team also earned some sort of selection—either from ACSMA or the ACC Coaches--to the conference’s All-ACC football team, including Thuney, Kiser, Edwards, Boulware, Hood, Clemson senior offensive guard Eric Mac Lain (Hope Mills, N.C.) and Pitt senior offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who were all first-team selections. Joining them on the second team was Martin of Duke, with Whitehead, Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Duke punter Will Monday (Flowery Branch, Ga.) earning third-team honors.
 
        Five more Academic team members earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors in Christian, Georgia Tech senior offensive tackle Trey Braun (Tallahassee, Fla.), Miami junior punter Justin Vogel (Tampa, Fla.), North Carolina junior placekicker Nick Weiler (Fairfax Station, Va.), Pitt sophomore cornerback Avonte Maddox (Detroit, Mich.) and Virginia junior punter Nicholas Conte (Roanoke, Va.).
 
        Weiler led all ACC placekickers in field goal percentage, making 20 of 23 three-point attempts (.870), while Duke’s Martin was second, having converted on 26 of his 30 attempts (.867).
 
        Three members of the team—Duke’s Martin, Monday and senior running back Shaquille Powell (Las Vegas, Nev.)--earned selection for the fourth time in their careers, becoming only the 20th, 21st and 22nd ACC student-athletes to do so.
 
        Five members of the team earned selection for the third time in their careers in Thuney, Edwards, Bisnowaty, Syracuse senior offensive guard Rob Trudo (Farrell, Pa.) and Wake Forest junior safety Ryan Janvion (Pembroke Pines, Fla.).
 
        Fourteen others earned repeat selections to the team in Boulware, Hood, Vogel, Maddox, Williams, Boston College junior defensive end Ken Kavalec (Middleburg Heights, Ohio), Duke junior quarterback Thomas Sirk (Glen St. Mary, Fla.), Duke junior offensive guard Tanner Stone (Dallas, Texas),  Florida State sophomore center Ryan Hoefeld (New Orleans, La.), Pitt junior tight end Scott Orndoff (Waynesboro, Pa.), Virginia junior safety Wil Wahee (Norfolk, Va.), Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Facyson (Newnan, Ga.), Virginia Tech junior safety Chuck Clark (Suffolk, Va.) and Wake Forest sophomore quarterback John Wolford (Jacksonville, Fla.).

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2015 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Football Team
Player                                           School................... Class....... Pos.... Major........................................................ Hometown
Jonathan Baker.................. Boston College....... So........... C........ General Management.............................. Millis, Mass.
Tinashe Bere...................... Duke..................... Fr.-R....... LB...... Undeclared......................................... Cincinnati, Ohio
*Adam Bisnowaty.............. Pitt........................ Sr.-R....... T........ Health & Physical Activity...................... Pittsburgh, Pa.
Ben Boulware.................... Clemson................ Jr............ LB...... Pre-Business........................................ Anderson, S.C.
Gabe Brandner.................. Duke..................... So.-R...... T........ Evolution Anthropology..................... Blythewood, S.C.
*Trey Braun....................... Georgia Tech......... Sr.-R....... T........ MBA................................................... Tallahassee, Fla.
Juston Burris...................... NC State................ Sr.-R....... CB...... Business Administration........................... Raleigh, N.C.
Zavier Carmichael............... Duke..................... So........... LB...... Undeclared.......................................... Eight Mile, Ala.
Geron Christian.................. Louisville................ Fr........... T........ Undecided................................................... Ocala, Fla.
Chuck Clark........................ Virginia Tech.......... Jr............ CB-S... Human Development................................ Suffolk, Va.
Augie Conte....................... Virginia Tech.......... Jr.-R........ G....... Consumer Studies................................. Richmond, Va.
Nicholas Conte................... Virginia.................. Jr.-R........ P........ Human Biology........................................ Roanoke, Va.
DeVon Edwards................. Duke..................... Jr.-R........ S........ Psychology........................................... Covington, Ga.
Jason Emerich.................... Syracuse................ Jr............ C........ Sport Management......................... New Ringgold, Pa.
Brandon Facyson............... Virginia Tech.......... So.-R...... CB...... Biology.................................................... Newnan, Ga.
Dontez Ford....................... Pitt........................ Jr.-R........ WR..... Business-Finance............................ McKees Rocks, Pa.
*Ian Frye........................... Virginia.................. Sr.-R....... PK...... Studio Arts.................................................. Bristol, Va.
Eric Gallo............................ Virginia Tech.......... So........... C........ Business................................................. Richboro, Pa.
Alex Gall............................ Miami.................... Jr............ T........ Sport Administration................................ Mason, Ohio
Truman Gutapfel............... Boston College....... Jr............ DT...... Economics............................................. Harrison, Ohio
Elijah Hood........................ North Carolina....... So........... RB...... Information Sciences............................ Charlotte, N.C.
Ryan Hoefeld..................... Florida State.......... So.-R...... C........ Sport Management........................... New Orleans, La.
Tobijah Hughley................. Louisville................ Sr.-R....... C........ Sports Administration............................ Lexington, Ky.
Ben Humphreys................. Duke..................... Fr........... LB...... Undeclared........................................ Santa Ana, Calif.
Ryan Janvion...................... Wake Forest.......... Jr.-R........ SS...... Business & Enterprise Mgt........... Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Matt Johns........................ Virginia.................. Jr.-R........ QB..... Economics............................................... Chalfont, Pa.
Brad Kaaya......................... Miami.................... So........... QB..... Public Relations............................... Los Angeles, Callif.
Kevin Kavalec..................... Boston College....... Jr............ DE...... Economics............................ Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Micah Kiser........................ Virginia.................. So.-R...... MLB... Foreign Affairs...................................... Baltimore, Md.
Nick Linder......................... Miami.................... So........... C........ Finance.......................................... Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Max McCaffery.................. Duke..................... Sr........... WR..... Psychology......................................... Castle Rock, Col.
*Eric Mac Lain.................... Clemson................ Sr.-R....... G....... Athletic Leadership............................. Hope Mills, N.C.
Avonte Maddox................. Pitt........................ So........... CB...... Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences........... Detroit, Mich.
Marcus Marshall................ Georgia Tech......... Fr........... BB...... Undecided............................................... Raleigh, N.C.
Ross Martin....................... Duke..................... Sr........... PK...... Psychology................................................ Solon, Ohio
Will Monday...................... Duke..................... Sr.-R....... P........ Sociology...................................... Flowery Branch, Ga.
Scott Orndoff..................... Pitt........................ Jr............ TE...... Administration of Justice................... Waynesboro, Pa.
Shaquille Powell................. Duke..................... Sr........... RB...... Psychology.......................................... Las Vegas, Nev.
Airius Moore...................... NC State................ So........... LB...... Social Work..................................... Beavercreek, Ohio
Kayton Samuels................. Syracuse................ Fr-R........ NT...... Undeclared.......................................... Ellenwood, Ga.
Alonzo Saxton II................. Duke..................... So........... CB...... Undeclared......................................... Columbus, Ohio
Thomas Sirk....................... Duke..................... Jr.-R........ QB..... Political Science............................... Glen St. Mary, Fla.
Tanner Stone..................... Duke..................... Jr.-R........ G....... Psychology.............................................. Dallas, Texas
*Joe Thuney...................... NC State................ Sr.-R....... G....... International Studies......................... Centerville, Ohio
*Rob Trudo........................ Syracuse................ Sr........... G....... Instructional Design, Development & Evaluation.... Farrell, Pa.
Justin Vogel....................... Miami.................... Jr............ P........ HSC General.............................................. Tampa, Fla.
Wil Wahee......................... Virginia.................. Jr.-R........ FS...... Sociology.................................................. Norfolk, Va.
*John Wallace.................... Louisville................ Sr.-R....... PK...... Masters of Business Administration............. Cecilia, Ky.
Nick Weiler........................ North Carolina....... Jr............ PK...... Business Administration.................. Fairfax Station, Va.
Jordan Whitehead............. Pitt........................ Fr........... S........ Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences........... Aliquippa, Pa.
Kielan Whitner................... Syracuse................ Fr........... S........ Undeclared..................................... Lawrenceville, Ga.
Jay Whitmire...................... Virginia.................. Jr.-R........ G....... Economics............................................ Alexandria, Va.
Christian Wilkins................. Clemson................ Fr........... DT...... Communications.............................. Springfield, Mass.
Hunter Williams................. Wake Forest.......... Sr.-R....... LB...... Business & Enterprise Mgt............... Wake Forest, N.C.
A.J. Wolf............................ Duke..................... Jr.-R........ DT...... Public Policy..................................... Greenwich, Conn.
John Wolford..................... Wake Forest.......... So........... QB..... Undeclared........................................ Jacksonville, Fla.
 
*Have already obtained undergraduate degree

Press Release Source: theACC.com