The All-ACC team honors are in before the start of the season as we project who should have the most dominant fall in the conference. Ahead of the 2022 college football season, Pro Football Network is proud to debut our All-Conference honors for each of the 10 conferences and the FBS Independents.
Detailing out our projected top players, units, and teams ahead of the action, PFN’s team of draft evaluators and national college football analysts looked at who they each thought would be the conference’s best in 2022. The results are in, and here is the cream of the crop heading into the fall.
Follow along with all of our All-Conference awards this preseason: AAC | B1G | Big 12 | C-USA | MAC | Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | Sun Belt | FBS Independent
Preseason All-ACC football team honors for 2022
It’s important to note that these are awards and honors from Pro Football Network for each individual’s expected prowess on the field this season. This is in no way a projection of their NFL draft status nor a report on the specific conference awards given this preseason. These honors are from Pro Football Network, as judged by our team of college football analysts and draft evaluators projecting their success on the field in 2022.
- ACC Player of the Year
Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson - ACC Offensive Player of the Year
Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse - ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson - ACC Newcomer of the Year
Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
The ACC should be dominated by their quarterback play in 2022. However, the man rushing the passer takes home the top honors. Myles Murphy already looks like a starting NFL defensive end and plays like one as well. He’ll instinctevly jump the snap, rotate his gap pre-snap, and simply dominate the offensive line in front of him. Murphy is on the list of defensive players to garner Heisman Trophy consideration by the season’s end.
Sean Tucker takes the top spot on offense as his speed, elusiveness, and vision are incredibly difficult to match. Tucker is expected to see some large rushing lanes opened for him with an improved offensive line and the dual-threat nature of Garrett Shrader in the backfield.
As far as Newcomer of the Year, Jared Verse is primed to follow the path laid out by Jermaine Johnson just a season ago in Tallahassee. Verse hails from Albany, where he dominated the competition. Word at Florida State indicates that he’s primed for the same role in 2022. We’ll be watching Verse as well as Pittsburgh WR Konata Mumpfield for the same kind of impact.
Offensive All-ACC team and player Honors
- ACC QB of the Year
Devin Leary, NC State - ACC RB of the Year
Sean Tucker, Syracuse - ACC WR of the Year
Josh Downs, North Carolina - ACC TE of the Year
Will Mallory, Miami - ACC Offensive Line of the Year
Wake Forest Demon Deacons - ACC Offensive Lineman of the Year
Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
Devin Leary ranked No. 4 on our preseason QB rankings, and he narrowly edges out Louisville’s Malik Cunningham for top honors at the position. Leary set an ACC record with his 35 or more touchdowns and five or fewer interceptions a season ago. He’s dominant with the football and should have yet another terrific season that should open eyes across the nation.
Tucker was the easy choice for top running back, while North Carolina’s Josh Downs edged out a couple of receivers to take the top spot. Though he’ll have to break in a new starting quarterback, Downs’ ability to win underneath and in the short area of the field should make him the go-to target for his new passer.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons return a bevy of starters, and Loic Ngassam Nya is a name to know ahead of the 2022 season. As far as the top offensive lineman, that goes to Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron, as he’s emerging as a draft favorite from us at PFN. Bergeron is strong and presents a challenge with his reach and technique.
Defensive All-ACC team and player honors
- ACC Defensive Line of the Year
Clemson Tigers - ACC DL of the Year
Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson - ACC LB of the Year
Trenton Simpson, Clemson - ACC Secondary of the Year
NC State - ACC CB of the Year
Darian Chestnut, Syracuse - ACC S of the Year
James Williams, Miami
The Clemson Tigers narrowly edge out Pittsburgh for the top spot on the defensive line. Clemson has a slight edge in depth, considering the potential first-round players they have up front. Murphy is the top player, but a healthy Bryan Bresee is about as hard to contain as any player in the country.
Trenton Simpson gives Clemson two of the top individual honors here as well, as the heat-seeking missile also makes huge strides in coverage. Simpson is an elite three-down linebacker with his versatility.
The NC State Wolfpack earn the edge for top defensive backfield with their mix of experience and starters returning. Darian Chestnut, however, receives the top individual honors at cornerback after breaking out last season. Chestnut is a ball hawk with tremendous range and sticky one-on-one coverage ability.
The potential for James Williams is immense. As he shifts to playing a bit closer to the line of scrimmage, the massive Williams can utilize his size, strength, and speed on an every-down basis in 2022. He’s got superstar written all over him.
Special teams All-ACC team and player honors
- ACC K of the Year
B.T. Potter, Clemson - ACC P of the Year
Lou Hedley, Miami - ACC Specialist of the Year
Evan Deckers, LS, Duke