The ACC should be dominated by top quarterback play during the 2022 college football season. However, when looking at the Pro Football Network 2022 Preseason All-ACC Team, it’s apparent that they’ll also have their hands full with the talent on the defensive side all the same. Presented in conjunction with our release of our College Football All-Americans, we at PFN debut our 2022 Preseason All-ACC Team, as voted on by our team of national analysts and NFL draft evaluators.
PFN’s 2022 All-ACC Team
It’s important to note that these teams may look a bit different than the All-Conference teams listed by each individual conference. Our teams mirror our All-Americans, taking into consideration not only what a player has accomplished to date, but looking forward to what we expect to see based on the growth of the athlete’s career.
Offense | First team
QB: Devin Leary, NC State
RB: Sean Tucker, Syracuse
RB: Jaylan Knighton, Miami (FL)
WR: A.T. Perry, Wake Forest
WR: Josh Downs, North Carolina
WR: Dontayvion Wicks, Virginia
TE: Will Mallory, Miami (FL)
FLEX: Keytaon Thompson, Virginia
OT: Jordan McFadden, Clemson
G: Caleb Chandler, Louisville
C: Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest
G: Marcus Minor, Pittsburgh
OT: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
Defense | First team
EDGE: Myles Murphy, Clemson
DT: Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
DT: Bryan Bresee, Clemson
EDGE: Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
LB: Trenton Simpson, Clemson
LB: Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
LB: Mikel Jones, Syracuse
CB: Garrett Williams, Syracuse
CB: Darian Chestnut, Syracuse
CB: Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville
S: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson
S: Jammie Robinson, Florida State
FLEX: James Williams, Miami (FL)
Specialists | First team
PK: B.T. Potter, Clemson
P: Lou Hedley, Miami (FL)
KR: Jaylen Stinson, Duke
PR: Taylor Morin, Wake Forest
LS: Evan Deckers, Duke
The first-team All-ACC indicates the strength of the talent level expected on the field this fall. It’s a dominant skill unit led by 1,000-yard receivers and a potential record-breaking running back from Syracuse. On defense, the strength of the conference is along the defensive line where the Clemson Tigers and Pittsburgh Panthers take all four spots. Both Pitt and Clemson also placed a third defensive lineman on the second team.
Offense | Second team
QB: Malik Cunningham, Louisville
RB: Will Shipley, Clemson
RB: Pat Garwo III, Boston College
WR: Zay Flowers, Boston College
WR: Devin Carter, NC State
WR: Jared Wayne, Pittsburgh
TE: Marshon Ford, Louisville
FLEX: DJ Scaife Jr., Miami (FL)
OT: Zion Nelson, Miami (FL)
G: Kaden Moore, Virginia Tech
C: Jakai Clark, Miami (FL)
G: Loic Ngassam Nya, Wake Forest
OT: Carter Warren, Pittsburgh
Defense | Second team
EDGE: Deslin Alexandre, Pittsburgh
DT: Robert Cooper, Florida State
DT: Tyler Davis, Clemson
EDGE: Rondell Bothroyd, Wake Forest
LB: Kalen DeLoach, Florida State
LB: Dax Hollifield, Virginia Tech
LB: SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
CB: Tyler Baker-Williams, NC State
CB: Josh DeBerry, Boston College
CB: Anthony Johnson, Virginia
S: Jaiden Woodbey, Boston College
S: Cam’Ron Kelly, North Carolina
FLEX: Kam Arnold, Boston College
Specialists | Second team
PK: Andres Borregales, Miami (FL)
P: Porter Wilson, Duke
KR: Trebor Pena, Syracuse
PR: Courtney Jackson, Syracuse
LS: Joe Shimko, NC State
The nation’s top dual-threat quarterback headlines the second-team All-ACC unit as Malik Cunningham is a challenge to contain. Furthering their recent success in the secondary, Boston College places a trio of back seven defenders including safety-turned-linebacker Kam Arnold.
Offense | Honorable mention
QB:
Tyler Van Dyke, Miami (FL)
Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
RB:
Kobe Pace, Clemson
Jalen Mitchell, Louisville
Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Dontae Smith, Georgia Tech
WR:
Malachi Carter, Georgia Tech
Beaux Collins, Clemson
Jalon Calhoun, Duke
Key’Shawn Smith, Miami (FL)
Joseph Ngata, Clemson
Thayer Thomas, NC State
TE:
Camren McDonald, Florida State
Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
FLEX:
Garrett Shrader, Syracuse
Antoine Green, North Carolina
OT:
DeVonte Gordon, Wake Forest
Trevor Reid, Louisville
Robert Scott Jr., Florida State
Asim Richards, North Carolina
G:
Dillan Gibbons, Florida State
Jacob Monk, Duke
Sean Maginn, Wake Forest
Dakota Davis, Syracuse
C:
Grant Gibson, NC State
Owen Drexel, Pittsburgh
Defense | Honorable mention
EDGE:
Jared Verse, Florida State
Xavier Thomas, Clemson
YaYa Diaby, Louisville
R.J. Oben, Duke
DT:
Myles Murphy, North Carolina
Raymond Vohasek, North Carolina
DeWayne Carter, Duke
Fabien Lovett, Florida State
LB:
Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech
Shaka Heyward, Duke
Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech
Isaiah Moore, NC State
Drake Thomas, NC State
Payton Wilson, NC State
CB:
Derrek Pitts Jr., NC State
Sheridan Jones, Clemson
Erick Hallett II, Pittsburgh
Shyheim Battle, NC State
Omarion Cooper, Florida State
Zamari Walton, Georgia Tech
S:
Akeem Dent, Florida State
R.J. Mickens, Clemson
Kenderick Duncan, Louisville
Chamarri Conner, Virginia Tech
FLEX:
Marcus Valdez, Boston College
Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
Shitta Sillah, Boston College
Specialists | Honorable mention
PK:
Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
Sam Scarton, Pittsburgh
P:
Alex Mastromanno, Florida State
Peter Moore, Virginia Tech
KR:
Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
Will Shipley, Clemson
PR:
Thayer Thomas, NC State
Jacolby George, Miami (FL)
LS:
Drew Little, North Carolina
Cade Long, Georgia Tech
For the rest of the Pro Football Network All-Conference Teams, view each conference here: B1G | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC | Independents | AAC | C-USA | MAC | MWC | Sun Belt