Pitt return ace Maurice Ffrench, 13 Clemson players named to preseason All-ACC team

Defending national champion Clemson placed 13 players on the 27-man preseason All-ACC team while Pitt, the team that lost to the Tigers in the conference championship game last year, settled for one.

The team was chosen by a vote of 173 media members.

Pitt is represented by senior return man Maurice Ffrench, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season and led the ACC in average kickoff return yardage (27.4). He also could help Pitt on punt returns this season after the graduation of Rafael Araujo-Lopes.

Ffrench is one of only six players from Coastal Division schools named to the team. He is joined by tight end Brevin Jordan and linebackers Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney of Miami, all-purpose player Deon Jackson of Duke and cornerback Bryce Hall of Virginia.

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was named preseason ACC player of the year, with 127 votes. His running back Travis Etienne finished second in the voting (24).

Quarterback Bryce Perkins of Virginia wasn’t named to the team, but he received six player of the year votes. Running backs A.J. Dillon (15) of Boston College and Cam Akers (one) of Florida State also were named on POY ballots.

Lawrence started the final 11 games last season as a freshman while Clemson became the first college team in the modern era to finish 15-0. Lawrence will be protected by four offensive linemen named to the team – offensive tackle Tremayne Anchrum, guards John Simpson and Gage Cervenka and center Sean Pollard.

Also, Clemson wide receivers Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins were included on the preseason team.

Here is the entire team:

Offense

WR – Tee Higgins, Clemson (145)

WR – Justyn Ross, Clemson (123)

WR – Tamorrion Terry, Florida State (69)

TE – Brevin Jordan, Miami (66)

AP – Deon Jackson, Duke (47)

OT – Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson (100)

OT – Ben Petrula, Boston College (54)

OG – John Simpson, Clemson (136)

OG – Gage Cervenka, Clemson (45)

C – Sean Pollard, Clemson (75)

QB – Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (161)

RB – Travis Etienne, Clemson (144)

RB – AJ Dillon, Boston College (144)

Defense

DE – Xavier Thomas, Clemson (84)

DE – Alton Robinson, Syracuse (83)

DT – Marvin Wilson, Florida State (105)

DT – Nyles Pinckney, Clemson (49)

LB – Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (118)

LB – Isaiah Simmons, Clemson (109)

LB – Michael Pinckney, Miami (66)

CB – Bryce Hall, Virginia (122)

CB – A.J. Terrell, Clemson (62)

S – Andre Cisco, Syracuse (80)

S – Tanner Muse, Clemson (78)

Special Teams

PK – Andre Szmyt, Syracuse (88)

P – Sterling Hofrichter, Syracuse (70)

SP – Maurice Ffrench, Pitt (48)

ACC Player of the Year

1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson – 127

2. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson – 24

3. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College – 15

4. Bryce Perkins, QB, Virginia – 6

5. Cam Akers, RB, Florida State – 1

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