Staff Reports

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced the 28 student-athletes who will represent their schools at the 2015 ACC Football Kickoff, which will be held July 19-21 at the Pinehurst Resort in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Each school brings two of its standout players to the Kickoff.

In all, 12 of the 28 attendees were named to the preseason watch lists for either the Maxwell or Bednarik Awards, announced Tuesday, or the Rimington Award which was announced last month.

Also included on the list is Florida State placekicker Roberto Aguayo, who was the 2013 Lou Groza Award-winner and a consensus first-team All-American in 2014, first-team 2015 All-Americans James Conner of Pitt (AFCA) and Jalen Ramsey of Florida State (USA Today) and second-team All-Americans Kendall Fuller of Virginia Tech (FWAA, Walter Camp, USA Today, Phil Steele) and Jeremy Cash of Duke (FWAA, Walter Camp, Phil Steele).

Attendees named to the preseason Maxwell list, for the National Player of the Year Award, were Conner, NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya, Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas and North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams.

Student-athletes who are coming to the Kickoff and were named to the preseason Bednarik Award watch list for Defensive Player of the Year included Cash, Ramsey, Fuller, Wake Forest linebacker Brandon Chubb, Louisville defensive end Sheldon Rankins and NC State defensive end Mike Rose.

Additionally, Duke center Matt Skura was one of five ACC pivotmen named to the Rimington Award’s preseason list. The Rimington is presented annually to the nation’s top center.

North Carolina’s Williams is the only student-athlete who attended the 2014 ACC Kickoff and will be present at this year’s pre-season football media event.  

2015 ACC Football Kickoff Student-Athletes

Player, School                                               Position                           Ht.    Wt.    Cl.             Hometown                        

Harris Williams, Boston College              Offensive Lineman      6-3    296     Sr.-R        Lynn, Mass.

Mehdi Abdesmad, Boston College       Defensive Tackle          6-7    286     Sr.-R        Montreal, Quebec, Can.

Eric Mac Lain, Clemson                              Offensive Guard          6-4    305     Sr.-R        Hope Mills, N.C.

D.J. Reader, Clemson                                 Defensive Tackle          6-2    325     Sr.             Greensboro, N.C.

Matt Skura, Duke                                         Center                              6-4    305     Sr.-R        Columbus, Ohio

Jeremy Cash, Duke                                     Safety                               6-2    205     Sr.-R        Miami, Fla.

Roberto Aguayo, Florida State               Placekicker                     6-1    204     Jr.-R         Mascotte, Fla.

Jalen Ramsey, Florida State                     Cornerback                     6-1    201     Jr.             Smyrna, Tenn.

Justin Thomas, Georgia Tech                  Quarterback                   5-11 189     Jr.-R         Prattville, Ala.

D.J. White, Georgia Tech                          Defensive Back             5-11 188     Sr.             McDonough, Ga.

James Burgess, Louisville                          Linebacker                      6-0    229     Sr.             Homestead, Fla.

Sheldon Rankins, Louisville                      Defensive Line              6-2    303     Sr.             Covington, Ga.

Brad Kaaya, Miami                                       Quarterback                   6-4    209     So.            Los Angeles, Calif.

Raphael Kirby, Miami                                 Linebacker                      6-1    235     Sr.             Stone Mountain, Ga.

Marquise Williams, North Carolina       Quarterback                   6-2    220     Sr.             Charlotte, N.C.

Jeff Schoettmer, North Carolina            Linebacker                      6-2    235     Sr.-R        Dallas, Texas

Jacoby Brissett, NC State                          Quarterback                   6-4    235     Sr.-R        West Palm Beach, Fla.

Mike Rose, NC State                                   Defensive End               6-3    277     Sr.-R        Fountain Inn, S.C.

James Conner, Pitt                                      Running Back                 6-2    240     Jr.             Erie, Pa.

Darryl Render, Pitt                                       Defensive Tackle          6-2    300     Sr.             Cleveland, Ohio

Terrel Hunt, Syracuse                                 Quarterback                   6-3    234     Sr.             Rosedale, N.Y.

Zaire Franklin, Syracuse                             Linebacker                      6-0    231     So.            Philadelphia, Pa.

Canaan Severin, Virginia                           Wide Receiver               6-2    215     Sr.             Marlborough, Mass.

David Dean, Virginia                                    Defensive Tackle          6-1    295     Sr.-R        Virginia Beach, Va.

Michael Brewer, Virginia Tech                Quarterback                   6-0    200     Sr.-R        Lake Travis, Texas

Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech                     Cornerback                     6-0    190     Jr.             Baltimore, Md.

Alex Kinal, Wake Forest                            Punter                              6-4    205     Sr.-R        Adelaide, South Australia

Brandon Chubb, Wake Forest                Linebacker                      6-1    245     Sr.-R        Powder Springs, Ga.