The all-time All-ACC faculty soccer staff

Who’s the most effective quarterback in ACC soccer historical past? Go forward, we’ll offer you a couple of minutes. It is no straightforward process narrowing down seven a long time of QBs — from Norm Snead to Trevor Lawrence — to a single participant. However that is what we tried to do that summer season. To say there have been robust disagreements could be an enormous understatement. This was robust.

As laborious because it was to search out one QB, it would’ve been more durable to land on simply two operating backs. How do you select between Warrick Dunn and Dalvin Prepare dinner? Even Florida State followers would not need to make that decision. Or how about defensive finish, the place Mario Williams, Vic Beasley and Bradley Chubb could not crack the first-team picks?

The purpose is, the ACC has a ridiculously wealthy historical past of expertise since its inception in 1953, and that legacy takes one other huge step ahead at this time, with the launch of the ACC Community. As we flip the web page to a brand new chapter, it was solely becoming that we make some robust selections, run by way of the numbers, argue for a couple of weeks and give you our all-time All-ACC staff.

Just a few caveats: We solely thought-about seasons wherein the gamers had been members of the ACC, so no Deion Sanders or Michael Vick or anybody from the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. Secondly, we tried to think about the period, too. QB stats in 1970 do not make for an apples-to-apples comparability with these from 2018. The aim was a illustration of all the nice eras of ACC soccer, so numbers weren’t the one metric used. Lastly, some résumés are nonetheless being written, so Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Bryce Corridor and Andre Szmyt would possibly effectively find yourself among the many ACC’s greats, however till their careers are over, we’re not prepared so as to add their names to the historical past books.

With all that in thoughts, this is what we got here up with. We’re certain you will agree with each decide. — Andrea Adelson, David M. Hale and Chris Low

Offense

Christian Petersen/Getty Pictures

QB: Deshaun Watson, Clemson

In his three seasons at Clemson, Watson modified the whole notion of this system. As a freshman, he threw for six touchdowns in his first begin and ended a five-game dropping streak to rival South Carolina whereas taking part in with a torn ACL. Lastly wholesome as a sophomore, Watson completed third in Heisman voting, accounted for 47 touchdowns and took Clemson to inside a breath of profitable a nationwide title. A 12 months later, he completed the duty, setting an ACC file with four,593 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, none larger than his last throw to Hunter Renfrow in the long run zone to win the nationwide championship. In his profession, Watson was a two-time Heisman finalist, a two-time Davey O’Brien and Manning award winner and an ACC Participant of the Yr, and he misplaced simply three video games because the Clemson beginning QB.

RB: Warrick Dunn, Florida State

At simply 5-foot-9, Dunn was by no means an imposing bodily presence within the backfield, however underestimating his capacity was a mistake. The New Orleans native burst onto the season as a real freshman, serving to Florida State to a nationwide title in 1993 with 10 touchdowns and practically 900 yards. He rushed for greater than 1,000 yards in every of his last three seasons with the Seminoles, ending his profession with three,959 speeding yards, good for 10th all time within the ACC, and 5,273 scrimmage yards, the league’s third-best mark. He was a three-time All-ACC choice, and his profession common of 6.9 yards per rush stays the most effective by any ACC runner with at the least 350 profession makes an attempt.

RB: Ted Brown, NC State

Information are made to be damaged, but Brown nonetheless holds the ACC’s all-time profession speeding yard file of four,602, set between 1975 and ’78, a very astounding accomplishment when you think about that each different main ACC offensive file has been reset since then. A 2013 inductee into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, Brown was the primary participant in league historical past to earn first-team All-ACC distinction all 4 years and was a consensus All-American in 1978. His 27 100-yard video games rank No. 1 in ACC historical past, and his 49 profession speeding touchdowns rank No. three.

Calvin Johnson completed his collegiate profession as Georgia Tech’s all-time chief in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. John Bazemore/AP Picture

WR: Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech

To easily repeat Johnson’s stats would not do justice to the participant he was. You needed to see Johnson at work to understand his influence. At 6-foot-5, he was a dominating bodily presence able to embarrassing any nook tasked with guarding him. In nearly each recreation he performed, he was the most effective participant on the sector. He completed his collegiate profession as Georgia Tech’s all-time chief in receiving yards (2,927), receiving touchdowns (28) and 100-yard receiving video games (13), together with racking up 9 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns in his last look in a Yellow Jackets uniform within the 2007 Gator Bowl. Johnson was an All-American as each a sophomore and junior, and in 2006, he received the Biletnikoff Award because the nation’s prime receiver.

WR: Peter Warrick, Florida State

One of the dynamic gamers in class historical past, Warrick dazzled together with his unimaginable capacity to make performs from wherever on the sector. His abilities as a pass-catcher are apparent, however he was additionally the Seminoles’ go-to participant for trick performs and a prolific punt returner. He was a three-time All-ACC choice from 1997 to ’99 and MVP of the 2000 Sugar Bowl, and he nonetheless holds the college file for profession landing receptions (32). A member of the ACC’s 50-year anniversary staff, he was inducted into the college’s corridor of fame in 2010 and had his No. 9 jersey retired in 2018.

TE: Greg Olsen, Miami

The Hurricanes have produced some elite tight ends over time. However within the ACC period, no one on the tight finish place compares to Olsen, who’s nonetheless taking part in within the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. He caught six landing passes throughout his three-year profession at The U from 2004-2006. He truly began his faculty profession at Notre Dame earlier than transferring to Miami.

OT: D’Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia

It is uncommon to acknowledge offensive linemen for setting data, however Ferguson did simply that in his profession at Virginia. As strong, constant and dominant as they arrive, Ferguson began all 4 years, not solely turning into the primary true freshman to begin on the offensive line but in addition setting the college file for begins by a freshman with 14 in 2002. He ended up beginning 49 straight video games, breaking Ray Roberts’ mark for consecutive begins by an offensive lineman. Ferguson earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2004 and 2005 and have become the college’s first All-American sort out since Roberts his senior season.

2 Associated

OG: Joe Bostic, Clemson

Bostic began all 4 seasons between 1975 and ’78, incomes All-ACC first-team honors in 1977 and ’78. In 1977, he received the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given yearly to the most effective blocker within the league and decided by the pinnacle coaches. In 1996, he was named to Clemson’s Centennial staff and inducted into the Clemson Corridor of Fame. In 2002, he was named to the ACC’s 50-year anniversary staff, and he was chosen as an ACC Legend in 2018.

C: Clay Shiver, Florida State

A 3-time All-ACC choice, Shiver was only a sophomore when his shotgun snaps to Charlie Ward helped Florida State to a nationwide title in 1993. He was an elite pass-blocker from the middle place, permitting simply half a sack over greater than 700 snaps that season. However the most effective was to come back. In each of his subsequent two years with the Seminoles, he was a second-team All-American and received the Jacobs Award because the ACC’s prime offensive lineman.

OG: Jim Ritcher, NC State

Ritcher was twice a consensus All-American at NC State and have become the primary middle to win the Outland Trophy as the highest inside linemen in faculty soccer in 1979, when the Wolfpack captured the ACC championship. He helped open lots of the holes Ted Brown ran by way of on his technique to an ACC-record four,602 speeding yards. Ritcher, a School Soccer Corridor of Fame choice, moved to middle within the NFL, the place he performed 16 seasons.

OT: Walter Jones, Florida State

Previous to being chosen to 9 Professional Bowls within the NFL, Jones made a reputation for himself as one of the dominant tackles to play for Bobby Bowden at Florida State. Granted, Jones performed only one season for the Seminoles after coming from junior faculty and redshirting his first season in Tallahassee, however he shortly developed into one of many prime offensive linemen in faculty soccer and allowed only one sack in 1996. He went No. 6 general within the subsequent NFL draft.

AP: C.J. Spiller, Clemson

Spiller’s resolution to spurn Florida and Florida State and attend Clemson in 2006 helped open the floodgates for the Tigers to go on a recruiting spree that continues to at the present time. A speedy operating again out of the Sunshine State, Spiller completed his profession with three,547 speeding yards, 1,420 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns. He ranked first on Clemson’s profession record with 7,588 all-purpose yards.

Protection

College of North Carolina/Getty Pictures

DE: Julius Peppers, North Carolina

It is becoming that, at UNC, one of many faculty’s all-time nice soccer gamers was additionally distinctive on the basketball court docket. Peppers performed each sports activities for 2 seasons in Chapel Hill, going to the Ultimate 4 as a reserve on the 1999-2000 staff. It was on the gridiron, nevertheless, that he made his case as one of many ACC’s all-time nice pass-rushers. Peppers was a first-team All-ACC choice in 2000 and ’01, when he received the Lombardi Award and Bednarik Award and was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy. He led the nation in sacks in 2000 (15) and was a unanimous first-team All-American following the 2001 marketing campaign. He stays second in class historical past in sacks (30.5) and tackles for loss (53).

DT Randy White, Maryland

Earlier than the behemoth defensive tackles, there was the “Manster.” White was undersized for a defensive sort out however was extremely robust and had uncanny velocity for a defensive lineman. As a senior in 1974, he led the Terps to an ACC championship whereas profitable each the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award. White completed with 24 tackles for loss that season, together with 12 sacks.

DT: William Fuller, North Carolina

Fuller helped ease the lack of Lawrence Taylor, making his residing within the opposing staff’s backfield between 1981 and ’83. He nonetheless owns the college file for profession tackles for loss with 57 and is one in every of simply six North Carolina gamers to earn first-team All-America honors twice. He was the one unanimous selection on the 1983 All-ACC staff and is one in every of simply three defensive linemen to make the All-ACC staff in three consecutive seasons. He completed his profession with 225 tackles and 20 sacks (sixth in class historical past).

DE: Peter Boulware, Florida State

Boulware’s junior season at Florida State was one for the ages. After a stellar sophomore marketing campaign in 1995 wherein he recorded 10 sacks, Boulware blossomed into one of the fearsome pass-rushers in class historical past, main the nation with 19 sacks in 1996 en path to ACC and nationwide defensive participant of the 12 months and consensus All-America honors. He completed his FSU profession with 34 sacks — simply shy of the college file, regardless of taking part in solely three seasons in Tallahassee — and was chosen fourth general within the 1997 NFL draft.

LB: Derrick Brooks, Florida State

Brooks arrived in Tallahassee as a heralded recruit at security, however after his freshman marketing campaign, he moved to outdoors linebacker and blossomed right into a famous person. His mixture of athleticism and physicality allowed him to cowl receivers and punish runners, and he completed each his junior and senior seasons as a finalist for the Butkus and Lombardi awards. He was a two-time consensus All-American and a three-time All-ACC defender who went on to an illustrious NFL profession with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Luke Kuechly was named ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr and received the Lombardi, Nagurski and Butkus awards his senior season at Boston School. Joe Robbins/Getty Pictures

LB: Luke Kuechly, Boston School

The place to begin with a participant as embellished and dominant as Kuechly? How about his senior 12 months, when Kuechly led the nation in tackles for the second straight season, was named ACC Defensive Participant of the Yr and received the Lombardi, Nagurski and Butkus awards. His ACC- and school-record 532 profession tackles rank second in NCAA historical past, and his profession complete tackles per recreation mark (14.zero) ranks first. He recorded at the least 10 tackles in 34 of 38 profession video games, together with a streak of 33 straight video games from Oct. three, 2009, to Nov. 19, 2011.

LB: Lawrence Taylor, North Carolina

The best participant in class historical past, Taylor is one in every of three UNC gamers to be named a unanimous All-American, and he nonetheless holds the college file for sacks in a season with 16. It was a swap to his favored outdoors linebacker place in 1979 that set Taylor off on his distinctive collegiate and NFL careers. In 1980, he was the ACC Participant of the Yr, simply the fourth defensive participant to win the honors. He made the ACC’s 50-year anniversary staff in 2002.

CB: Donnell Woolford, Clemson

Woolford was a two-time All-American at Clemson and a part of three ACC championship groups. The epitome of a canopy cornerback, Woolford completed his profession with 10 interceptions, and plenty of near the Clemson program contemplate him the most effective nook to ever play for the Tigers. As a senior in 1988, Woolford did not permit an opposing receiver to catch greater than two passes towards him in a recreation.

S: Terry Kinard, Clemson

Pop quiz: Identify the primary Clemson participant to earn unanimous All-America honors. That distinction belongs to Kinard, who completed it in 1982. One of many best gamers in class historical past, Kinard was a two-time All-ACC choice and nonetheless ranks fifth in ACC historical past with 17 profession interceptions. He was inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2001, the identical 12 months he went into the college’s Ring of Honor.

S: Ken Swilling, Georgia Tech

One of many best gamers in Georgia Tech historical past, Swilling had the scale of a linebacker and hit like one, however he additionally showcased the protection abilities to intercept 13 passes throughout his profession. There is a purpose he was known as “Captain America,” as there wasn’t a lot he could not do on a soccer subject. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Swilling was the centerpiece of the Yellow Jackets’ 1990 nationwide championship staff.

CB: Dre Bly, North Carolina

As a freshman in 1996, Bly set a brand new commonplace for what a first-year defensive again might do. He completed the 12 months with 11 interceptions and 13 go breakups, turning into the primary freshman in ACC historical past to win consensus All-America honors. His 11 picks led the nation and set an ACC file that stood for 15 years. As a sophomore, he was a finalist for the Nagurski Award because the nation’s prime defender and was twice named a consensus All-American, the one UNC participant with that honor. His 20 profession interceptions are second in ACC historical past, and he was a member of the 2014 School Soccer Corridor of Fame class.

Particular groups

Sebastian Janikowski was a two-time Groza Award winner and unanimous All-American at Florida State. Scott Halleran/Getty Pictures

Ok: Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State

Janikowski was the kicker coach Bobby Bowden had been ready for all his life. A two-time Groza Award winner, Janikowski was recognized for the unimaginable energy he delivered together with his left leg, routinely booming lengthy subject objectives and sending kickoffs by way of the uprights. His stocky construct and bald head solely added to his legend. In three seasons, he scored 324 complete factors and was a unanimous All-American in 1999, and his 27 subject objectives in 1998 are nonetheless tied for many in class historical past.

P: Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest

A 3-time All-ACC punter, Plackemeier completed his profession with a median punt of 45.three yards, the second-best mark in league historical past. He led the league in punting common 3 times, and as a senior in 2005, he averaged higher than 47 yards per punt en path to All-America honors. That season, Plackemeier received the Ray Man award because the nation’s prime punter.

RS: Ryan Switzer, North Carolina

Switzer set faculty data for profession receptions (244) and profession receiving yards (2,907), nevertheless it was within the return recreation the place he was most electrifying for the Tar Heels. He took seven punts again for touchdowns and ended his profession as one in every of simply 9 gamers in ACC historical past with greater than 1,000 yards on punt returns. 5 of his seven punt returns for touchdowns got here when he was a freshman in 2013.

Second/third groups

Charlie Ward is a School Soccer Corridor of Famer and a Heisman winner, but he did not make the primary staff. AP Picture/John Swart

Charlie Ward is a School Soccer Corridor of Famer, a Heisman winner, a two-time ACC Participant of the Yr. But right here he’s, main our all-time All-ACC second staff and completely illustrating the tough selections we confronted when making our picks. Quarterback is the place we argued about probably the most, and it’s secure to say I did a lot of the arguing in favor of Ward being on the primary staff. That isn’t a knock or slight on Watson however a perception that one of the iconic quarterbacks in faculty soccer historical past deserved the nod just a bit bit extra. Possibly that has one thing to do with the period wherein I grew up.

I watched Ward remodel not solely the precise place, as the primary dual-threat quarterback to win the Heisman, but in addition Florida State itself. Earlier than he turned the beginning quarterback, the Seminoles by no means received a championship, regardless of how laborious they tried, dropping the flawed recreation on the flawed time yearly. Quarterback wasn’t the one place the place we confronted a tricky selection, although. Listed here are among the different gamers who narrowly missed out on first-team honors. — Andrea Adelson

Second-team offense: QB Charlie Ward, Florida State; OT Jim Dombrowski, Virginia; OG Alex Barron, Florida State; C Bob Pellegrini, Maryland; OG Laken Tomlinson, Duke; OT William Thomas, Florida State; WR Torry Holt, NC State; WR Herman Moore, Virginia; TE Heath Miller, Virginia; RB Dalvin Prepare dinner, Florida State; RB Brian Piccolo, Wake Forest; AP Leon Johnson, North Carolina

Second-team protection: DE Mario Williams, NC State; DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh; DT Christian Wilkins, Clemson; DE Chris Lengthy, Virginia; LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest; LB E.J. Henderson, Maryland; LB Jeff Davis, Clemson; S Derwin James, Florida State; S Brian Dawkins, Clemson; CB Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest; CB Ronde Barber, Virginia

Second-team particular groups: RS Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech; P Shawn Powell, Florida State; Ok Roberto Aguayo, Florida State

Lamar Jackson received the Heisman Trophy following his sophomore season at Louisville and was named ACC Athlete of the Yr after his junior 12 months. Andy Lyons/Getty Pictures

Third-team offense: QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville; OT Ereck Flowers, Miami; OG Rodney Hudson, Florida State; C Garrett Bradbury, NC State; OG Mike McGee, Duke; OT Stan Jones, Maryland; WR Rashad Greene, Florida State; WR Jamison Crowder, Duke; TE Bennie Cunningham, Clemson; RB James Conner, Pitt; RB Amos Lawrence, North Carolina; AP Sammy Watkins, Clemson

Third-team protection: DE Bradley Chubb, NC State; DT Michael Dean Perry, Clemson; DT B.J. Raji, Boston School; DE Vic Beasley, Clemson; LB Sam Cowart, Florida State; LB Ahmad Brooks, Virginia; LB Mark Herzlich; Boston School; S Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech; S Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State; CB Corey Sawyer, Florida State; CB Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech

Third-team particular groups: RS Torrey Smith, Maryland; P Riley Dixon, Syracuse; Ok Nick Novak, Maryland