Preseason College Football 2023 All-ACC Team: Florida State tops Clemson and Miami
Today, we’ll examine the ACC’s best players by building three 2023 preseason All-Conference teams
The ACC sits in limbo as the SEC and Big Ten move to absorb more premier programs. However, the ACC is still one of the three most talented conferences in college football with several noteworthy programs continuously attracting top talents. Today, we’ll examine the ACC’s best players by building three 2023 preseason All-Conference teams.
Clemson finished atop the ACC with 13 total preseason All-Conference selections when I did this exercise last year, but the conference’s two Florida schools have emerged as contenders for the top spot. Will a new king be crowned in the ACC this year? The preseason All-Conference teams tell an interesting story.
Please note that these teams don’t reflect how I view players as NFL prospects. Talent plays a role in these evaluations, but projected on-field performance and production are more meaningful.
This is the second part of an offseason series where I cover all Power Five and some Group of Five conferences. Subscribe for free with your email to receive updates on my latest posts and follow along as we cover the college football landscape.
*Indicates new transfer
^Indicates Sam Teets 2022 preseason All-Conference selection
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Drake Maye, North Carolina
Running Back: Trey Benson, Florida State
Running Back: Will Shipley, Clemson^
Wide Receiver: Johnny Wilson, Florida State
Wide Receiver: Keon Coleman, Florida State*
Wide Receiver: Devontez Walker, North Carolina*
Tight End: Jaheim Bell, Florida State*
All-Purpose: Ryan O'Keefe, Boston College* (WR)
Offensive Tackle: Graham Barton, Duke
Offensive Tackle: Matt Goncalves, Pittsburgh
Guard: Christian Mahogany, Boston College^
Guard: Javion Cohen, Miami*
Center: Matthew Lee, Miami*
First Team Defense
Defensive End: Jared Verse, Florida State^
Defensive End: Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Defensive Tackle: DeWayne Carter, Duke^
Defensive Tackle: Tyler Davis, Clemson^
Linebacker: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
Linebacker: Cedric Gray, North Carolina
Linebacker: Barrett Carter, Clemson
Cornerback: Fentrell Cypress II, Florida State*
Cornerback: Nate Wiggins, Clemson
Safety: Kamren Kinchens, Miami
Safety: LaMiles Brooks, Georgia Tech
Florida State (six) narrowly edges out Clemson (five) and Miami (four) for the most spots on the First Team. The Seminoles became a central hub for transfers over the past two years. Three of their six selections joined the program this offseason, and Jared Verse was a key addition in 2022.
North Carolina (three), Boston College (two), and Duke (two) were the other programs with multiple First Team selections. Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh each had one selection while Louisville, North Carolina State, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest showcased how top-heavy the ACC is by not registering a single selection.
Duke putting two players on the First Team is an impressive placement for the Blue Devils, considering they were shut out in this section last year.
The transfer portal played a huge role in reshaping the ACC this offseason. Six of the 13 First Team offensive players arrived at their current teams through the portal in the past few months. Fentrell Cypress II was the only recent transfer on defense. Miami hasn’t attracted as many transfers as Florida State, but the Hurricanes still brought in a lot of new talent as Mario Cristobal continues molding the program.
Clemson’s talent is still heavily concentrated on the defensive side of the ball. Four of the Tigers’ five selections are on defense. All four project as top 100 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Seven of the preseason First Team All-ACC honorees received First Team All-ACC honors from the conference at the end of last season, including Graham Barton, Tyler Davis, Cedric Gray, Kamren Kinchens, Drake Maye, Will Shipley, and Jared Verse. Trey Benson, DeWayne Carter, Fentrell Cypress II, and Johnny Wilson earned Second Team All-ACC honors, while LaMiles Brooks and Matt Goncalves were Third Team selections.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Jordan Travis, Florida State
Running Back: Rodney Hammond Jr., Pittsburgh
Running Back: Jawhar Jordan, Louisville
Wide Receiver: Jalon Calhoun, Duke
Wide Receiver: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
Wide Receiver: Antonio Williams, Clemson
Tight End: Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina
All-Purpose: LeQuint Allen, Syracuse (RB)
Offensive Tackle: Robert Scott Jr., Florida State
Offensive Tackle: Jeremiah Byers, Florida State*
Guard: Kyle Hergel, Boston College*
Guard: Casey Roddick, Florida State*
Center: Bryan Hudson, Louisville
Second Team Defense
Defensive End: Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
Defensive End: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Defensive Tackle: Leonard Taylor, Miami
Defensive Tackle: Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
Linebacker: Francisco Mauigoa, Miami*
Linebacker: Marlowe Wax, Syracuse
Linebacker: Stefon Thompson, Syracuse
Cornerback: Aydan White, North Carolina State
Cornerback: Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech
Safety: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson^
Safety: Brandon Johnson, Duke
Florida State and Syracuse led the way on the Second Team with four selections apiece, once again narrowly topping Clemson (three). Boston College, Duke, Louisville, Miami, and North Carolina were the other programs with multiple selections. Virginia Tech and Wake Forest were shut out for a second time, and Georgia Tech dropped off as well.
Transfers and returning selections played a much smaller role on the Second Team than on the First Team. Three transfer offensive linemen, including two from Florida State, and new Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa made the list. Clemson’s Andrew Mukuba was the only returning 2022 preseason All-ACC selection.
Florida State held its lead over Clemson by claiming three of the offensive line spots on the Second Team. The Seminoles have tremendous depth on their line thanks to four experienced transfer portal additions. It wouldn’t be shocking if a quality starter ends up losing his spot midseason.
Syracuse made a surprising push despite losing Garrett Williams to the NFL and Darian Chestnut to LSU. Slot receiver Oronde Gadsden II was the First Team All-ACC tight end in 2022 despite not really playing the position. LeQuint Allen flashed in relief of Sean Tucker, and the two linebackers have been among the conference’s most productive players over the past few years. Stefon Thompson is working back from a season-ending injury, but he was very effective in 2021.
Several Second Team selections represent significant projections. Veterans like Jordan Travis are established stars, but LeQuint Allen, Rodney Hammond Jr., and Antonio Williams are still hunting for their breakout seasons.
Oronde Gadsden II and Aydan White were First Team All-ACC selections for the 2022 season. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Bryan Hudson, Robert Scott Jr., and Jordan Travis earned Second Team honors, while Jalon Calhoun made the Third Team.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Riley Leonard, Duke
Running Back: Henry Parrish Jr., Miami^
Running Back: Pat Garwo III, Boston College^
Wide Receiver: Donavon Greene, Wake Forest
Wide Receiver: Ali Jennings, Virginia Tech*
Wide Receiver: Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh
Tight End: Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh^
All-Purpose: Jamari Thrash, Louisville* (WR)
Offensive Tackle: Renato Brown, Louisville
Offensive Tackle: Zion Nelson, Miami^
Guard: Michael Gonzalez, Louisville
Guard: D'Mitri Emmanuel, Florida State
Center: Dylan McMahon, North Carolina State
Third Team Defense
Defensive End: Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest
Defensive End: Xavier Thomas, Clemson
Defensive Tackle: Braden Fiske, Florida State*
Defensive Tackle: Darrell Jackson, Florida State*
Linebacker: Payton Wilson, North Carolina State^
Linebacker: Tatum Bethune, Florida State
Linebacker: Power Echols, North Carolina
Cornerback: M.J. Devonshire, Pittsburgh
Cornerback: Shyheim Battle, North Carolina State
Safety: James Williams, Miami
Safety: Victor Nelson Jr., Boston College*
Clemson’s bid to repeat as the program with the most preseason All-ACC selections falls short. The Tigers only had one player (Xavier Thomas) selected for the Third Team. Florida State completed the sweep with four selections, followed closely by Louisville, Miami, North Carolina State, and Pittsburgh at three apiece. Georgia Tech, Syracuse, and Virginia weren’t represented.
Transfers once again played a large role in Florida State asserting superiority. Both interior defensive linemen, Braden Fiske and Darrell Jackson, recently joined the Seminoles. D'Mitri Emmanuel is Florida State’s fourth preseason All-ACC lineman. Miami also had a strong overall showing on the offensive line with three total being selected across all teams.
The Third Team quarterback battle was a close call between Riley Leonard and Tyler Van Dyke. Van Dyke impressed when injuries suddenly thrust him into action in 2021, but he struggled at the start of last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Leonard quietly had an excellent season and is poised to earn All-Conference honors now that Sam Hartman is out of the ACC.
The conference’s strongest positions this year are center, cornerback, defensive end, and safety. Check out the honorable mentions at those spots because there are several All-Conference-worthy talents.
The five transfers on the preseason Third Team brought the total to 16 across all three squads, which included 72 total players. That’s slightly less than the 18 transfers that made the Pac-12 teams. No members of the Third Team received ACC All-Conference honors in 2022.
Final Outcome and Recap
The Seminoles rolled all other ACC teams with 14 total selections. For reference, Oregon and USC tied with 12 selections each for the lead in the All-Pac-12 preseason teams. Half of Florida State’s preseason All-ACC players transferred to the program this offseason, showcasing the power of the transfer portal to transform depth charts in a year or two.
Clemson and Miami tied for second place with nine selections each. Seven of Clemson’s selections came on the defensive side of the ball, and none have transferred at any point in their college careers. The addition of new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley might restore some shine to Clemson’s offense over the next few years.
The outcome of the top three programs marks a significant shift in the talent distribution in the ACC. Last year, Clemson led the way with 13 selections, followed by Pittsburgh (eight) and North Carolina (six). Florida State and Miami were two of six programs with five players selected. Now, they are both on the same level as Clemson.
Boston College and North Carolina tied for fourth place on the 2023 preseason All-ACC Teams with six players each. Duke, Louisville, and Pittsburgh finished with five, followed by North Carolina State and Syracuse with four. Virginia Tech (two), Wake Forest (two), Georgia Tech (one), and Virginia (zero) brought up the rear.
The Cavaliers had five players make the preseason teams last year, including quarterback Brennan Armstrong, linebacker Nick Jackson, and wide receiver Billy Kemp, who left the program after a disastrous season under head coach Tony Elliott. Wake Forest also had five players selected in 2022 but dropped to two this year.
Duke was on the other side of the coin. The Blue Devils only had one player (DeWayne Carter) make the 2022 preseason squads but enter 2023 with some of the best players in the ACC.
Five Additional Breakout Candidates
1. Alijah Huzzie, CB North Carolina*
2. Caleb Okechukwu, Edge Syracuse
3. Tyler Van Dyke, QB Miami
4. Jaylin Lane, WR Virginia Tech*
5. Phil Mafah, RB Clemson
Honorable Mentions Offense
Brennan Armstrong, QB North Carolina State*^
Phil Jurkovec, QB Pittsburgh*
Cade Klubnik, QB Clemson
Jack Plummer, QB Louisville*
Tyler Van Dyke, QB Miami
Omarion Hampton, RB North Carolina
Phil Mafah, RB Clemson
Kobe Pace, RB Virginia*^
Bhayshul Tuten, RB Virginia Tech*
Jahmal Banks, WR Wake Forest
Beaux Collins, WR Clemson
Jaylin Lane, WR Virginia Tech*
Malik Washington, WR Virginia*
Jake Briningstool, TE Clemson
Kyle Morlock, TE Florida State*
George Takacs, TE Boston College
Anthony Belton, OT North Carolina State
DeVonte Gordon, OT Wake Forest
Tristan Leigh, OT Clemson
Francis Mauigoa, OT Miami
Blake Miller, OT Clemson
Keiondre Jones, G Florida State*
Walker Parks, G Clemson^
Brian Stevens, G Virginia*
Marcus Tate, G Clemson
Michael Jurgens, C Wake Forest^
Jake Kradel, C Pittsburgh
Willie Lampkin, C North Carolina*
Jacob Monk, C Duke
Will Putnam, C Clemson^
Maurice Smith, C Florida State
Honorable Mentions Defense
Branson Deen, IDL Miami*
D'Quan Douse, IDL Georgia Tech
Aaron Faumui, IDL Virginia
Jermayne Lole, IDL Louisville
Fabien Lovett Sr., IDL Florida State
Myles Murphy, IDL North Carolina^
Norell Pollard, IDL Virginia Tech
Chico Bennett Jr., Edge Virginia
Kameron Butler, Edge Virginia
Ashton Gillotte, Edge Louisville
Jahfari Harvey, Edge Miami
Stephen Herron, Edge Louisville *
R.J. Oben, Edge Duke
Caleb Okechukwu, Edge Syracuse
Patrick Payton, Edge Florida State
Davin Vann, Edge North Carolina State
Kendron Wayman, Edge Wake Forest
Vinny DePalma, LB Boston College
Amari Gainer, LB North Carolina*^
Chase Jones, LB Wake Forest
Shayne Simon, LB Pittsburgh
Wade Woodaz, LB Clemson
Al Blades Jr., CB Duke*
Davonte Brown, CB Miami*
Jarvis Brownlee, CB Louisville
Derrick Canteen, CB Virginia Tech*
Caelen Carson, CB Wake Forest^
Armani Chatman, CB North Carolina*
Storm Duck, CB Louisville*^
Renardo Green, CB Florida State
Alijah Huzzie, CB North Carolina*
Elijah Jones, CB Boston College
Isaiah Johnson, CB Syracuse
Myles Jones, CB Duke*
Sheridan Jones, CB Clemson
Robert Kennedy III, CB North Carolina State*
Quincy Riley, CB Louisville
Myles Sims, CB Georgia Tech
Alex Washington, CB Boston College*
A.J. Woods, CB Pittsburgh
Marquis Williams, CB Pittsburgh
Shyheim Brown, S Florida State
Akeem Dent, S Florida State
Cam'Ron Kelly, S Louisville*^
R.J. Mickens, S Clemson
Malik Mustapha, S Wake Forest
Jalyn Phillips, S Clemson
Jason Simmons Jr., S Syracuse
Jaylen Stinson, S Duke