July 29, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. -
North Carolina defensive standouts Marvin Austin, Kendric Burney and Quan Sturdivant were among the 24 players named to the preseason All-ACC football team Monday. Media members attending the 2009 ACC Football Kickoff at the Grandover Resort cast 44 ballots for the teams.
Georgia Tech running back Jonathan Dwyer, who is seeking to become the league's first two-time Player of the Year since 1992 and '93, led all candidates with 41 votes. Dwyer averaged 107 rushing yards per game as the Yellow Jackets quickly adapted to coach Paul Johnson's triple-option spread offense last season.
C.J. Spiller of Clemson appears twice on the chart. He's Dwyer's running mate in the backfield and the media's choice at specialist. In 2008, he placed 14th nationally in kickoff-return average at 27 yards an attempt.
N.C. State's Russell Wilson, who threw 249 consecutive passes without an interception over his final nine games as a redshirt freshman a year ago and became the first freshman in league history to earn first-team All-ACC honors as a quarterback, was the top vote-getter among signal callers.
Three players topped the defensive honorees with 34 votes apiece: Duke defensive tackle Vince Oghobaase, widely considered among the best five players nationally at his position; Florida State linebacker Dekoda Watson; and Georgia Tech safety Morgan Burnett, a second-team All-American according to three sources last season.
Virginia Tech led the way with four selections: tight end Greg Boone; defensive end Jason Worilds, who made 18.5 tackles for loss in 2008; safety Kam Chancellor; and offensive guard Sergio Render.
Three teams had three selections.
* North Carolina was represented by linebacker Sturdivant, whose 87 unassisted tackles led the nation last year; tackle Austin; and cornerback Burney.
* Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who made 39 of his team's 74 pass receptions on the season, joined Dwyer and Burnett among the Jackets' honorees.
* Clemson got two of its three appearances from Spiller. Wide receiver Jacoby Ford provided the other.
In all, 17 players who earned first or second-team or Honorable Mention All-ACC honors in 2008 were chosen for the 2009 pre-season team including 2009 first-team honorees Wilson, Dwyer, Spiller (as specialist), Florida State guard Rodney Hudson and Maryland punter Travis Baltz.
Nine members of the 2009 preseason team earned second team All-ACC honors last year including Spiller (as a running back), Worilds, Burnett, Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, Virginia Tech offensive guard Sergio Render, Miami placekicker Matt Bosher (who actually earned 2nd-team ALL-ACC as a punter and placekicker), Maryland linebacker Alex Wujciak, Virginia cornerback Ras-I-Dowling and North Carolina cornerback Kendric Burney. The 2008 honorable mention All-ACC selections were Duke's Oghobaase, Boston College center Matt Tennant and NC State defensive end Willie Young.
OFFENSE
Pos Name School # In 2008 unless otherwise noted
QB Russell Wilson NC State 31 2008 1st-team All-ACC, ACC Rookie of the Yr
RB Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech 41 2008 ACC Player of the Year,
2009 Pre-Season Player of the Year
RB C.J. Spiller Clemson 38 Needs 921 all-purpose yards for ACC record
WR Demaryius Thomas Georgia Tech 15 Had more than half of Tech's catches
WR Jacoby Ford Clemson 31 2nd among active ACC players in yds, catches
TE Greg Boone Virginia Tech 32 22 catches for 278 yards
OT Jason Fox Miami 32 Graded out at 97% for the year
OT Anthony Castonzo Boston College 26 2008 second-team All-ACC
OG Sergio Render Virginia Tech 25 2008 second-team All-ACC, 40 career starts
OG Rodney Hudson Florida State 32 Named to 2009 Lombardi Trophy watch list
C Matt Tennant Boston College 23 On 2009 watch list for Rimington Trophy
PK Matt Bosher Miami 34 Made 18-of-20 FGAs; 2008 2nd Team All-ACC
DEFENSE
Pos Name School # In 2008 unless otherwise noted
DE Jason Worilds Virgina Tech 25 Recorded 18.5 tackles for loss, 2008 2nd-team All-ACC
DE Willie Young NC State 21 Credited with 65 QB pressures in his career
DT Vince Oghobaase Duke 34 Lott Trophy finalist has started 36 straight games
DT Marvin Austin North Carolina 25 Interception return for a TD and blocked PAT
LB Dekoda Watson Florida State 34 28 tackles in final four regular-season games
LB Quan Sturdivant North Carolina 28 Led the nation in unassisted tackles (87)
LB Alex Wujciak Maryland 18 13th nationally in total tackles (10.2 per game)
CB Ras-I Dowling Virginia 21 T-11 nationally in passes defended per game (1.27)
CB Kendric Burney North Carolina 13 Credited with 78 tackles
S Morgan Burnett Georgia Tech 34 Preseason All-American by 3 sources
S Kam Chancellor Virginia Tech 31 2 fumble recoveries, 2 INT
P Travis Baltz Maryland 20 Led ACC in punting average (41.1)
Specialist: C.J. Spiller, Clemson
