Preseason All-ACC Football Selections 2022: Clemson Remains King
The Clemson Tigers lead the way followed by the Pittsburgh Panthers for the most All-ACC selections in the first article in our new offseason series.
It’s a little early to begin building preseason all-conference teams for college football, but I wanted to get a head start on this series before ramping up my NFL coverage in June and July. In the coming weeks, I’ll construct all-conference teams for every major conference in college football. These teams will highlight the best returning players, breakout candidates, and superstar freshmen.
Let’s set some ground rules for this series. As with the official all-conference teams, not all players included on these all-star rosters become draft-eligible in 2023. Players of all classifications are eligible for all-conference honors. Running backs and wide receivers are eligible for the all-purpose designation, and all-purpose players may appear on other teams in their natural positions.
Perhaps the most important rule for this series is that these units aren’t based on talent. Production and how you achieve that production are the most important parts of evaluating a player for all-conference honors. For instance, Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke or Pittsburgh’s Kedon Slovis might be the most naturally gifted quarterbacks in the ACC. However, if Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong and North Carolina State’s Devin Leary post better passing totals with fewer turnovers per attempt, Slovis and Van Dyke won’t earn All-ACC honors. This rule applies to every position.
There are a significant number of predictive elements in this series. Maybe you won’t like some of those predictions. Please remain respectful, even if you disagree with some of the players I’ve elevated because my breakout predictions differ from yours.
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Editor’s note: Jermayne Lole transferred to Louisville after this article’s publication.
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Brennan Armstrong, Virginia
Running Back: Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Running Back: Pat Garwo III, Boston College
Wide Receiver: Josh Downs, North Carolina
Wide Receiver: A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
Wide Receiver: Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
Tight End: Marshon Ford, Louisville
All-Purpose: Keytaon Thompson, Virginia (WR)
Offensive Tackle: Jordan McFadden, Clemson
Offensive Tackle: Zion Nelson, Miami
Guard: Caleb Chandler, Louisville
Guard: Christian Mahogany, Boston College
Center: Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest
First Team Defense
Defensive End: Myles Murphy, Clemson
Defensive End: Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
Defensive Tackle: Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Defensive Tackle: Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
Linebacker: Drake Thomas, North Carolina State
Linebacker: Mikel Jones, Syracuse
Linebacker: Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Cornerback: Storm Duck, North Carolina
Cornerback: Garrett Williams, Syracuse
Safety: Jammie Robinson, Florida State
Safety: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson
Armstrong captures the highest honor among a crowded ACC quarterback field (scroll down to see six honorable mentions). Devin Leary had an argument for the top spot based on his efficient playing style that avoids turnovers, and Sam Hartman’s boom-or-bust style has the potential to post big numbers. However, Armstrong and Virginia have their top three wide receivers returning in 2022, all of who earned either First or Second-Team All-ACC honors in this article.
Armstrong’s breakout 2021 season and proven supporting cast elevate him above more talented options.
The Cavaliers had a strong showing on the Preseason All-ACC First-Team, getting three offensive players on the board. Syracuse also put three players up, but the Clemson Tigers dominated the standings with five all-conference selections. Four of Clemson’s representatives are on the defensive side of the ball.
Florida State, Miami, and North Carolina State each only had one player make the First Team. Duke, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech got shutout.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Devin Leary, North Carolina State
Running Back: Tiyon Evans, Louisville
Running Back: Will Shipley, Clemson
Wide Receiver: Keytaon Thompson, Virginia
Wide Receiver: Zay Flowers, Boston College
Wide Receiver: Billy Kemp, Virginia
Tight End: Will Mallory, Miami
All-Purpose: Treshaun Ward, Florida State (RB)
Offensive Tackle: Carter Warren, Pittsburgh
Offensive Tackle: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
Guard: DJ Scaife Jr., Miami
Guard: Marcus Minor, Pittsburgh
Center: Grant Gibson, North Carolina State
Second Team Defense
Defensive End: Mitchell Agude, Miami
Defensive End: Xavier Thomas, Clemson
Defensive Tackle: Tyler Davis, Clemson
Defensive Tackle: DeWayne Carter, Duke
Linebacker: Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
Linebacker: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State
Linebacker: Nick Jackson, Virginia
Cornerback: Tony Grimes, North Carolina
Cornerback: Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
Safety: Kenderick Duncan, Louisville
Safety: Cam'Ron Kelly, North Carolina
A couple of transfers found their way onto the All-ACC Second-Team. Louisville’s Tiyon Evans, a four-star recruit from 2021, transferred from Tennessee. Meanwhile, edge rusher Mitchell Agude, a three-star recruit in the class of 2020, moved from one side of the country to the other. He left UCLA after two seasons to join the Hurricanes.
After having just one player earn First-Team honors, North Carolina State and Miami had three players appear on the Second Team. Louisville and Virginia continued their strong showings with three Second-Team selections each. Thanks to three more selections, Clemson maintains its lead over the other ACC teams with eight total players selected (six on defense). All four starters on Clemson’s defensive line have earned spots.
Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech failed to place a player on the Second Team, while Duke’s DeWayne Carter ended the program’s shutout. Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech still haven’t received a Preseason All-ACC selection.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
Running Back: Henry Parrish Jr., Miami
Running Back: Kobe Pace, Clemson
Wide Receiver: Jadan Blue, Virginia Tech
Wide Receiver: Antoine Green, North Carolina
Wide Receiver: E.J. Williams, Clemson
Tight End: Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
All-Purpose: Joseph Ngata, Clemson (WR)
Offensive Tackle: Walker Parks, Clemson
Offensive Tackle: Gabe Houy, Pittsburgh
Guard: Will Putnam, Clemson
Guard: Dillan Gibbons, Florida State
Center: Johnny Jordan, Virginia Tech
Third Team Defense
Defensive End: Rondell Bothroyd, Wake Forest
Defensive End: Jared Verse, Florida State
Defensive Tackle: Myles Murphy, North Carolina
Defensive Tackle: Corey Durden, North Carolina State
Linebacker: SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
Linebacker: Amari Gainer, Florida State
Linebacker: Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech
Cornerback: Darian Chestnut, Syracuse
Cornerback: Josh DeBerry, Boston College
Safety: Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh
Safety: Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech finally gets on the board with its only Preseason All-ACC selection (Charlie Thomas). Meanwhile, Virginia Tech makes up for lost time with three Third-Team selections, including transfer Jadan Blue. Florida State also earned three nominations, including Jared Verse, a transfer from Albany.
Pittsburgh dominated the Third Team with four players making appearances, but the Tigers stole the show with five entries. Clemson finished this exercise with a commanding 13 players who earned Preseason All-ACC selections.
Other teams that posted solid numbers include the Florida State Seminoles (five), Miami Hurricanes (five), North Carolina State Wolfpack (five), Syracuse Orange (five), Virginia Cavaliers (five), Wake Forest Demon Deacons (five), North Carolina Tar Heels (six), and Pittsburgh Panthers (eight).
The quarterback depth in the ACC looks insane heading into this season. Cornerback, defensive end, and safety also have no shortage of talent. I was surprised by the lack of elite options at wide receiver and running back, but I believe we’ll see several new faces emerge over the next year or two to fill the void left by players like Jordan Addison, Ty Chandler, Jashaun Corbin, Mataeo Durant, Emeka Emezie, Jahmyr Gibbs, Zonovan Knight, Charleston Rambo, Jaquarii Roberson, Justyn Ross, and Tre Turner.
The offensive line pool wasn’t very deep, but I believe that’s more of a universal college football issue than something specific to the ACC.
If you believe I left deserving players off the teams, please check the honorable mentions before commenting their names.
Honorable Mentions Offense
Malik Cunningham, QB Louisville
Phil Jurkovec, QB Boston College
Cade Klubnik, QB Clemson
Kedon Slovis, QB Pittsburgh
DJ Uiagalelei, QB Clemson
Tyler Van Dyke, QB Miami
Grant Wells, QB Virginia Tech
Jalen Mitchell, RB Louisville
George Pettaway, RB North Carolina
Frank Ladson Jr., WR Miami
Jared Wayne, WR Pittsburgh
Davis Allen, TE Clemson
Bryson Nesbit, TE North Carolina
Jake Kradel, G Pittsburgh
Sean Maginn, G Wake Forest
Jacob Monk, G Duke
Loic Ngassam Nya, G Wake Forest
Owen Drexel, C Pittsburgh
Mikey Minihan, C Georgia Tech
Honorable Mentions Defense
Robert Cooper, IDL Florida State
Fabien Lovett, IDL Florida State
Akheem Mesidor, IDL Miami
Raymond Vohasek, IDL North Carolina State
Deslin Alexandre, DE Pittsburgh
Kameron Butler, DE Virginia
K.J. Henry, DE Clemson
Marcus Valdez, DE Boston College
Shaka Heyward, LB Duke
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB Clemson
Tyler Baker-Williams, CB North Carolina State
Shyheim Battle, CB North Carolina State
Al Blades Jr., CB Miami
Kei'Trel Clark, CB Louisville
Sheridan Jones, CB Clemson
Jeadyn Lukus, CB Clemson
Daryl Porter Jr., CB Miami
Quincy Riley, CB Louisville
Tyrique Stevenson, CB Miami
Fred Davis, S Clemson
Akeem Dent, S Florida State
Tanner Ingle, S North Carolina State
R.J. Mickens, S Clemson
Nasir Peoples, S Virginia Tech
James Williams, S Miami
Jaiden Woodbey, S Boston College