GREENSBORO, N.C. – The defending national champion Clemson Tigers are bringing back ample firepower to make a run at a repeat this upcoming college football season. Wednesday morning the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) released the All-ACC Preseason team, voted on by members of the media covering the league.
Wide receiver Cam Phillips of the Virginia Tech Hokies carries the ball following his reception. (Photo by Michael Shroyer/Getty Images)
The Tigers landed five student-athletes on the team, three on offense, and two on defense .
Virginia Tech faced the Tigers in the ACC Championship game last season, but many see the Hokies having to fill some major voids left from departing players.
Hokies senior receiver Cam Phillips is the vocal leader of the offense, and finished second on the team in receiving yards last season with 983 on 76 catches. Offensive tackle Wyatt Teller was selected as one of the five offensive lineman named to the first team.
The lone Hokies defensive player to make the team was cornerback Tremaine Edmunds. The Danville, Virginia native finished with one interception and 106 tackles in his first full season of starting.
Quin Blanding and Bryce Hall react after a defensive play against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. (Photo: Lance King/Getty Images)
Virginia’s Micah Kiser and Quin Blanding have been staples of the Cavaliers defense since their arrivals. Blanding, the former Bayside Marlin, bypassed his NFL draft prospects to finish off his career with the ‘Hoos. The safety finished 2016 with two interceptions and a fumble recovery, while racking up 118 tackles.
Kiser, entering his third season of starting, amassed 133 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries last season.
Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville was chosen to repeat as ACC Player of the Year after a record-setting 2016 campaign in which he averaged 393.4 yards per game of total offense and accounted for 51 touchdowns, both ACC single-season records. His 1,571 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns were also ACC records for a quarterback.
2017 All-ACC Preseason Football Team
