The Clemson Insider

By William Qualkinbush.

Earlier this morning, the Atlantic Coast Conference released the results of the preseason All-ACC selections as chosen by the media representatives present at the ACC Football Kickoff. Many of the picks jived with my own selections, but there were some instances where my opinion differed from the consensus. Here is a breakdown of each selection, with a brief comment explaining why I did what I did:

QB: Jameis Winston, Florida State

My Pick: Winston

I mean, because duh. There aren’t any other choices.

RB: Duke Johnson, Miami (FL); Karlos Williams, Florida State

My Picks: Johnson; Kevin Parks, Virginia

I’m an admitted skeptic of Williams. Anybody could run behind that offensive line, so I won’t be fooled into thinking he has transcendent talent. Parks is the leading returning rusher in the conference from a team that will almost certainly run it more this season. Also, Johnson is an absolute monster.

WR: Jamison Crowder, Duke; Rashad Greene, Florida State; DeVante Parker, Louisville

My Picks: Greene; Parker

We only got to vote for two guys, and these were my clear-cut choices. Parker caught 12 balls last year in a more conservative offense, while Greene shouldn’t miss a beat as a more attractive option for Winston. Crowder is a nice player, but he doesn’t have as much natural ability as the other two, in my opinion.

TE: Nick O’Leary, Florida State

My Pick: O’Leary

Jimbo Fisher says there’s nothing he can’t do. I agree. This is the toughest matchup in college football.

OT: Cameron Irving, Florida State; Sean Hickey, Syracuse

My Picks: Erving; Isaiah Battle, Clemson

There’s no way to leave Irving off the list. The guy is a monster. I considered Hickey, but I went with the potential pick and threw Battle on there. I have no doubt he will get more looks for postseason honors than he did in the preseason process.

OG: Tre’ Jackson, Florida State; Laken Tomlinson, Duke

My Picks: Jackson; Shaquille Mason, Georgia Tech

Once again, Jackson has to be here. Tomlinson is probably the best second choice in hindsight, but I decided to reward value here. Tech’s offense doesn’t go anywhere without versatile guards, and Mason is a legitimate pro prospect at the position for a reason.

C: Andy Gallik, Boston College

My Pick: Gallik

This could have been literally anybody. I broke the tie by picking the player I talked to most recently.

DE: Vic Beasley, Clemson; Mario Edwards, Jr., Florida State

My Picks: Beasley; Edwards, Jr.

Beasley makes this list on the back of his production. He got six votes for Player of the Year, so there was no doubt he would be included. Edwards, Jr. gets the nod on reputation, not necessarily as a result of his productivity last season. Still, in a more prominent role, he should amass some scary statistics.

DT: Luther Maddy, Virginia Tech; Grady Jarrett, Clemson

My Picks: Jarrett; Ethan Farmer, North Carolina

I think Jarrett is the best interior D-lineman in this conference. I also think Maddy is a great playmaker. However, I’ve found Farmer to be more disruptive when I’ve seen him. He’s stood out more to me, which is how I settled on him as my second choice.

LB: Denzel Perryman, Miami (FL); Kelby Brown, Duke; Stephone Anthony, Clemson

My Picks: Anthony; Perryman; David Helton, Duke

Anthony and Perryman are absolute musts here. Both can make just about every play you need a linebacker to make on the football. I didn’t understand the inclusion of Brown, who seemed to be banged up a lot last year and wasn’t nearly as productive as Helton.

CB: Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech; P.J. Williams, Florida State

My Picks: Fuller; Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest

Just imagine Fuller in a Clemson uniform. It almost happened. The guy can play any kind of DB position as well as anybody in America. I’ve got nothing against Williams, but I thought either of the Wake Forest corners needed some love, so I went with Johnson over Merrill Noel.

S: Anthony Harris, Virginia; Jeremy Cash, Duke

My Picks: DeVon Edwards, Duke; Harris

Every time I turned around last season, Edwards was scoring a touchdown. That matters to me, which is why I picked him over his teammate. Harris led the world in interceptions last year. You’d be foolish to think he isn’t good enough to be here.

PK: Roberto Aguayo, Florida State

My Pick: Aguayo

Yet another no-brainer. The guy won the Groza Award as a freshman, for crying out loud.

P: A.J. Hughes, Virginia Tech

My Pick: Will Monday, Duke

This was a coin flip for me between Hughes and Monday. The difference was my beliefs concerning each punter’s offensive football team. I think Duke will punt more this season, while I think Virginia Tech will punt less. With more reps, it makes sense to take Monday.

SP: Ryan Switzer, North Carolina

My Picks: Switzer

There were other alternatives, but only one is the absolute real deal. Switzer is a burner with elite quickness and a knack for finding a crease.

God Bless!