Announcing the 2023 All-ACC College Football Teams
Clemson and Florida State dominate the 2023 All-ACC Teams
The ACC produced the fewest selections among the Power Five for my 2023 All-America Teams, but the conference is absolutely loaded with defensive talent. Today, we’re assembling three All-ACC teams based on performances from games prior to bowl season. Check out which programs had the most selections.
Before getting into the All-ACC Teams, here are my picks for the conference’s two greatest individual honors.
ACC Offensive Player of the Year: Drake Maye, North Carolina
ACC Defensive Player of the Year: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Drake Maye, North Carolina
Running Back: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Running Back: Jawhar Jordan, Louisville
Tight End: Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
Wide Receiver: Malik Washington, Virginia
Wide Receiver: Jamari Thrash, Louisville
Wide Receiver: Xavier Restrepo, Miami
All-Purpose: Keon Coleman, Florida State (WR)
Left Tackle: Darius Washington, Florida State
Right Tackle: Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
Left Guard: Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest
Right Guard: Christian Mahogany, Boston College
Center: Bryan Hudson, Louisville
First Team Defense
Edge Rusher: Jared Verse, Florida State
Edge Rusher: Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Interior Lineman: Braden Fiske, Florida State
Interior Lineman: Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
Linebacker: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State
Linebacker: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
Linebacker: Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Cornerback: Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Cornerback: Elijah Jones, Boston College
Safety: Kamren Kinchens, Miami
Safety: Khalil Barnes, Clemson
Four programs tied with the most players on the All-ACC First Team. Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, and North Carolina (four each) led the way, followed by Boston College (three). Miami was the only other program with multiple selections. North Carolina State, Virginia, and Wake Forest were also represented, while Duke, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech weren’t.
Clemson and North Carolina only went 4-4 in conference play, compared to 8-0 for Florida State and 7-1 for Louisville, but the Tigers and Tar Heels were still two of the most talented programs in the conference. All four of Clemson’s selections came on defense, while three of North Carolina’s were on offense.
Clemson true freshman Khalil Barnes and North Carolina sophomore Omarion Hampton are the only First Team players who aren’t draft-eligible.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Jordan Travis, Florida State
Running Back: Trey Benson, Florida State
Running Back: LeQuint Allen, Syracuse
Tight End: Jaheim Bell, Florida State
Wide Receiver: Kevin Concepcion, North Carolina State
Wide Receiver: Keon Coleman, Florida State
Wide Receiver: Devontez Walker, North Carolina
All-Purpose: Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech (RB)
Left Tackle: Graham Barton, Duke
Right Tackle: DeVonte Gordon, Wake Forest
Left Guard: Michael Gonzalez, Louisville
Right Guard: Jacob Monk, Duke
Center: Matt Lee, Miami
Second Team Defense
Edge Rusher: Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
Edge Rusher: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
Interior Lineman: Aeneas Peebles, Duke
Interior Lineman: Tyler Davis, Clemson
Linebacker: Kalen DeLoach, Florida State
Linebacker: Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
Linebacker: Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
Cornerback: Renardo Green, Florida State
Cornerback: Jarrian Jones, Florida State
Safety: Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest
Safety: Jaylon King, Georgia Tech
Jordan Travis’ injury ultimately spelled doom for Florida State’s playoff hopes, but he still authored a tremendous year before going down. Travis is one of seven Seminoles on the Second Team. Duke and Wake Forest tied for the second-most selections with three apiece. Georgia Tech, Miami, and Syracuse were the only other programs with multiple selections.
Clemson, Louisville, North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Virginia Tech each placed one player on the Second Team. Boston College, Pittsburgh, and Virginia came up empty. Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland applied pressure on 18.18% of his pass rush attempts in 2023 and has already committed to returning to school in 2024.
Jarrian Jones is one of the more underrated players on the Second Team. The former outside cornerback kicked inside to the slot this year and earned All-America honors in my selection process as a nickel.
LeQuint Allen is the only player on the Second Team who isn’t eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft. Florida State’s Keon Coleman appeared as an all-purpose selection on the First Team and a wide receiver selection on the Second Team. He didn’t have dominant receiving totals, but he scored double-digit touchdowns and returned punts for 300 yards.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Jack Plummer, Louisville
Running Back: Phil Mafah, Clemson
Running Back: Will Shipley, Clemson
Tight End: Jake Briningstool, Clemson
Wide Receiver: Bub Means, Pittsburgh
Wide Receiver: Johnny Wilson, Florida State
Wide Receiver: Jordan Moore, Duke
All-Purpose: Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech (RB)
Left Tackle: Jalen Rivers, Miami
Right Tackle: Blake Miller, Clemson
Left Guard: Marcus Tate, Clemson
Right Guard: D'Mitri Emmanuel, Florida State
Center: Will Putnam, Clemson
Third Team Defense
Edge Rusher: Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Edge Rusher: T.J. Parker, Clemson
Interior Lineman: Joshua Farmer, Florida State
Interior Lineman: Norell Pollard, Virginia Tech
Linebacker: Power Echols, North Carolina
Linebacker: Barrett Carter, Clemson
Linebacker: Jacob Roberts, Wake Forest
Cornerback: Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
Cornerback: M.J. Devonshire, Pittsburgh
Safety: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson
Safety: Jonas Sanker, Virginia
The Clemson Tigers made a strong final push with nine players on the Third Team, followed by Florida State and Virginia Tech in a distant second place (three each). North Carolina and Pittsburgh (two) also had multiple selections while Duke, Louisville, Miami, Virginia, and Wake Forest had one each. Boston College, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, and Syracuse weren’t represented.
Clemson sophomore Blake Miller and freshman T.J. Parker were the only non-draft-eligible players on the Third Team. The Tigers have a terrific crop of underclassmen, including some All-ACC honorable mentions in freshmen Tyler Brown (WR), Avieon Terrell (CB), and Peter Woods (DT).
North Carolina’s Kaimon Rucker put together a great season and would’ve earned Second Team honors in another conference. The ACC just happened to have plenty of talented pass rushers this year. Rucker applied pressure on 13.61% of his pass rush attempts in 2023, tallying 15 tackles for loss and 60 pressures.
Former Clemson safety Andrew Mukuba declined to enter the NFL Draft. Instead, he transferred to Texas. Mukuba is an excellent, versatile addition to the Longhorns. Barrett Carter also passed on a chance to enter the draft, but he’s staying at Clemson. Virginia Tech cornerback Dorian Strong is also returning to school and should be a nice under-the-radar prospect entering 2024.
All-ACC Team Recap
Clemson and Florida State set themselves apart in this exercise, earning 14 All-ACC selections each. Eleven of the Seminoles earned spots on the First or Second Team, while most of Clemson’s players appeared on the Third Team. Keon Coleman appeared twice for the Seminoles. Of the 13 total athletes to represent FSU, nine were former transfers.
North Carolina (seven), Louisville (six), Miami (five), and Wake Forest (five) were the other programs with five or more selections. Duke (four), Virginia Tech (four), Boston College (three), Georgia Tech (two), North Carolina State (two), Pittsburgh (two), Syracuse (two), and Virginia (two) represent the other ACC programs.
Honorable Mentions Offense
Tyler Van Dyke, QB Miami
Haynes King, QB Georgia Tech
Riley Leonard, QB Duke
Jordan Waters, RB Duke
Isaac Guerendo, RB Louisville
Henry Parrish Jr., RB Miami
Dae'Quan Wright, TE Virginia Tech
John Copenhaver, TE North Carolina
Gavin Bartholomew, TE Pittsburgh
Kyle Morlock, TE Florida State
J.J. Jones, WR North Carolina
Ryan O'Keefe, WR Boston College
Jaylin Lane, WR Virginia Tech
Da'Quan Felton, WR Virginia Tech
Jacolby George, WR Miami
Eric Singleton Jr., WR Georgia Tech
Malachi Fields, WR Virginia
Tyler Brown, WR Clemson
Konata Mumpfield, WR Pittsburgh
Colbie Young, WR Miami
Jahmal Banks, WR Wake Forest
Bless Harris, LT Florida State
Logan Taylor, LT Boston College
Anthony Belton, LT North Carolina State
Spencer Rolland, RT North Carolina
Francis Mauigoa, RT Miami
Eric Miller, RT Louisville
Jeremiah Byers, RT Florida State
Joe Fusile, LG Georgia Tech
Kyle Hergel, LG Boston College
Javion Cohen, LG Miami
Willie Lampkin, RG North Carolina
Keiondre Jones, RG Florida State
Matt Gulbin, RG Wake Forest
Anez Cooper, RG Miami
Renato Brown, RG Louisville
Brian Stevens, C Virginia
Maurice Smith, C Florida State
Dylan McMahon, C North Carolina State
Honorable Mentions Defense
Rueben Bain Jr., Edge Miami
Patrick Payton, Edge Florida State
Xavier Thomas, Edge Clemson
Stephen Herron, Edge Louisville
Dayon Hayes, Edge Pittsburgh
Davin Vann, Edge North Carolina State
R.J. Oben, Edge Duke
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge Boston College
Caleb Okechukwu, Edge Syracuse
Mason Reiger, Edge Louisville
Kyle Kennard, Edge Georgia Tech
Kevin Pointer, IDL Wake Forest
DeWayne Carter, IDL Duke
Leonard Taylor III, IDL Miami
Fabien Lovett, IDL Florida State
Aaron Faumui, IDL Virginia
Jermayne Lole, IDL Louisville
Cam Horsley, IDL Boston College
Bryce Ganious, IDL Wake Forest
Jared Harrison-Hunte, IDL Miami
Myles Murphy, IDL North Carolina
Peter Woods, IDL Clemson
Tatum Bethune, LB Florida State
Dylan Hazen, LB Wake Forest
TJ Quinn, LB Louisville
Vinny DePalma, LB Boston College
Tre Freeman, LB Duke
Brandon George, LB Pittsburgh
Nick Morris Jr., LB Duke
Antonio Watts, LB Louisville
James Jackson, LB Virginia
DJ Lundy, LB Florida State
Solomon DeShields, LB Pittsburgh
Wade Woodaz, LB Clemson
Azareye'h Thomas, CB Florida State
Fentrell Cypress II, CB Florida State
Quincy Riley, CB Louisville
Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB Louisville
Isaiah Johnson, CB Syracuse
Daryl Porter Jr., CB Miami
Te'Cory Couch, NB Miami
Avieon Terrell, CB Clemson
Sheridan Jones, CB Clemson
Caelen Carson, CB Wake Forest
Aydan White, CB North Carolina State
Shyheim Battle, CB North Carolina State
Myles Sims, CB Georgia Tech
Armani Chatman, CB North Carolina
Alijah Huzzie, NB North Carolina
Al Blades Jr., CB Duke
Alijah Clark, S Syracuse
Justin Barron, S Syracuse
Robert Kennedy, NB North Carolina State
Jeremiah Lewis, S Duke
Javon McIntyre, S Pittsburgh
Antavious Lane, S North Carolina
Shyheim Brown, S Florida State
James Williams, S Miami
Akeem Dent, S Florida State
R.J. Mickens, S Clemson
Donovan McMillon, S Pittsburgh
Devin Neal, S Louisville
LaMiles Brooks, S Georgia Tech