PINEHURST, N.C. (theACC.com) – Clemson is the
preseason favorite to claim the Atlantic Coast Conference football
championship, according to a poll of 158 media members in attendance at the
2015 ACC Football Kickoff at Pinehurst Resort.
The Tigers were also picked over three-time defending ACC
champion Florida State to capture the Atlantic Division, while Georgia Tech was
favored to repeat as the Coastal Division winner.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who established himself
as one of the nation’s rising stars as a true freshman last season, was voted
the 2015 ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Tigers were picked the likely overall champions of the
ACC on 84 ballots, followed by Florida State with 41 and Georgia Tech with 20.
Virginia Tech (7 votes), North Carolina (3), Miami (2) and NC State (1) rounded
out the balloting .
In the Atlantic Division preseason voting, Clemson received
101 first-place votes and finished with 1,032 total points. Florida State
received 56 first-place votes and placed second with 992 points, while
Louisville had one first-place vote and was third in the voting with 746
points.
NC State was tabbed for a fourth-place Atlantic Division
finish, followed by Boston College, Syracuse and Wake Forest.
Georgia Tech was selected the likely Coastal winner by 96
voters and finished with 991 total points, followed by Virginia Tech with 44
first-place votes and 841 points. Miami received seven first-place votes and
was third in the voting with 632 total points.
Duke (four first-place votes) placed fourth, followed by
North Carolina, Pitt and Virginia. Four voters chose UNC to claim the Coastal
Division, while three gave Pitt the nod.
Watson will lead a Clemson offense that also returns
talented wide receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott. The Tigers, who have
won at least 10 games each of the past four seasons, seek their 15th
ACC championship and first since 2011.
Watson led the preseason ACC Player of the Year balloting
with 69 votes, followed by 2014 ACC leading rusher and Player of the Year James
Conner of Pitt with 46. Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas placed third
with 13 votes,
Injuries sidelined Watson for part of his freshman season,
but the Gainesville, Georgia native still threw for 1,466 yards and 14
touchdowns against only two interceptions in 330 snaps over eight games (five
starts). He also made his mark as a rushing threat with 200 yards and five
touchdowns on 63 carries.
Watson finished last season ranked first in Clemson history
in passing efficiency and completion percentage by a freshman, as well as first
in school history in passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense by a
first-year freshman.
ACC Championship Votes
- Clemson - 84
- Florida State - 41
- Georgia Tech - 20
- Virginia Tech - 7
- North Carolina - 3
- Miami - 2
- NC State - 1
Atlantic Division
(First place votes in parenthesis)
- Clemson (101) – 1,032
- Florida State (56) - 992
- Louisville (1) - 746
- NC State - 673
- Boston College - 473
- Syracuse - 291
- Wake Forest - 217
Coastal Division
(First place votes in parenthesis)
- Georgia Tech (96) - 991
- Virginia Tech (44) - 841
- Miami (7) - 632
- Duke (4) - 615
- North Carolina (4) - 590
- Pitt (3) -535
- Virginia -220
ACC Player of the Year
- Deshaun Watson, QB,
Clemson - 69 - James Conner, RB, Pitt -
46 - Justin Thomas, QB, Georgia
Tech - 13 - t-4. Jalen
Ramsey, CB Florida State - 7 - t-4. Brad Kaaya,
QB, Miami -7 - t-6. Marquise
Williams, QB, North Carolina - 6 - t-6. Kendall
Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech - 6 - Tyler Boyd, WR, Pitt – 3
- Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC
State - 1
