Pitt's Jimmy Morrissey, Jaylen Twyman, Paris Ford named All-ACC 1st-teamers

Center Jimmy Morrissey, defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman and strong safety Paris Ford lead a group of seven Pitt players — plus two honorable-mention selections — named Tuesday to the All-ACC Team.

Overall, Pitt landed eight selections, including senior Maurice Ffrench, who was named to the third team as a wide receiver and in the all-purpose category.

The All-ACC picks are Pitt’s most since 2015, coach Pat Narduzzi’s first season. Morrissey, Twyman and Ford are Pitt’s most first-teamers since 2016 and are tied with Wake Forest for the second-most among all ACC schools this season. Clemson, who will play for its fifth consecutive ACC championship Saturday against Virginia, placed 16 players on the first, second and third teams.

Defensive end Patrick Jones II and cornerback Dane Jackson (Quaker Valley) were named to the second team, and Ffrench and guard Bryce Hargrove received third-team recognition.

Linebacker Kylan Johnson, defensive tackle Amir Watts and Ffrench as a specialist are Pitt’s honorable-mention selections.

Here is a brief rundown on each player:

• Morrissey, a junior and former walk-on who made 37 career starts, did not allow a sack all season and was Pitt’s best run blocker.

• Twyman, a redshirt sophomore, recorded 10½ sacks, the most by a Pitt defensive tackle since Aaron Donald had 11 in 2013. Twyman is 14th in the nation and second in the ACC with 0.88 sacks per game.

• Ford, another redshirt sophomore and a Steel Valley graduate, leads Pitt with 86 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defensed (28th nationally). He also forced three fumbles for an average of 0.25 that is 21st in the nation.

• Jones, a junior and first-year starter, leads the ACC and is fifth nationally in forced fumbles (0.33 per game; four total). He also recorded 8½ sacks and a team-high 18 quarterback hurries. He and Twyman share the team lead with 12 tackles for loss each.

• Jackson, a senior, is the top cover corner for a defense ranked 14th in pass efficiency. He was tied for the most pass breakups (12) in the ACC.

• Ffrench, a senior, leads the ACC and is third in the nation with 8.4 receptions per game. His 84 catches represent the fourth-highest single-season total in Pitt history and is only eight behind Larry Fitzgerald’s school record (92).

• Hargrove, a junior left guard, allowed just one sack this season.

• Johnson, a graduate transfer from Florida, recorded 51 tackles, 10½ TFLs and 6½ sacks.

• Watts, a senior, had 22 tackles, seven TFLs and two sacks.

The All-ACC team is voted on by the conference coaches, a representative from each of the 14 schools’ radio broadcast teams and select media members who cover the league on a daily basis.

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