ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE ALL-LEAGUE SELECTIONS 2020

The end of the college football season is a sad time, because it means that we are almost finished withfootball, and have a long cold winter (and spring) ahead of us.

But it's also a time for passing out hardware, in the form of all-league teams. 

Plenty of players had the spotlight shining on them, so it was admittedly tricky trying to find the best of the best in each league. But through careful research, and all night film sessions, our committee of three came up with what we thought were the best choices in each conference. 

These selections may not match the ones unveiled by the conferences, but that's because much of that is name recognition more than stellar play. Digging deep behind the numbers is what's needed, and that's precisely what we have done here.

In the Atlantic Coast Conference it was pretty much the same old story -- Clemson wins again, though for a change it was pushed. Notre Dame knocked off the Tigers in one of the thrillers of the regular season, but Clemson repaid the Irish with a vengeance in the league title game, leaving no doubt who rules the roost in the ACC. Trevor Lawrence was his usual reliable self, while Irish linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was a game changer and Butkus Award winner. Clemson frosh Bryan Bresee entered the program with a ton of hype but lived up to it, and looks to have a stellar career ahead. North Carolina State was believed to be an afterthought but had one of the better performances of coach Dave Doeren's tenure in Raleigh.

1^ST TEAM OFFENSE                                                                                   2^ND TEAM OFFENSE

QB Trevor Lawrence/Clemson                                                             QB Sam Howell/North Carolina

RB Javonte Williams/North Carolina                                                     RB Michael Carter/North Carolina

RB Travis Etienne                                                                                     RB Khalil Herbert/Virginia Tech

WR Dyami Brown/North Carolina                                                          WR Jaquarii Roberson/Wake Forest

WR Zay Flowers/Boston College                                                         WR Tutu Atwell/Louisville

WR Amari Rodgers/Clemson                                                               WR Emeka Emezie/NC State

TE Hunter Long/Boston College                                                           TE Brevin Jordan/Miami

OT Christian Darrisaw/Virginia Tech                                                   OT Liam Eichenberg/Notre Dame

OT Robert Hainsey/Notre Dame                                                            OT Jackson Carman/Clemson

OG Doug Nester/Virginia Tech                                                              OG Tommy Kraemer/Notre Dame

OG Aaron Banks/Notre Dame                                                                OG Ben Petrula/Boston College

 C Alec Lindstrom/Boston College                                                       C Jimmy Morrissey/Pittsburgh                                       

1^ST TEAM DEFENSE                                                                                  2^ND TEAM DEFENSE

DE Rashad Weaver/Pittsburgh                                                             DE Patrick Jones II/Pittsburgh

DT Alim McNeil/NC State                                                                       DT Bryan Bresee/Clemson

DT Calijah Kancey/Pittsburgh                                                              DT Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa/Notre Dame

DE Quincy Roche/Miami                                                                        DE Jaelan Phillips/Miami

LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/Notre Dame                                  LB Chazz Surratt/North Carolina

LB Payton Wilson/NC State                                                                  LB Cam Bright/Pittsburgh

LB Mike Jones Jr/Clemson                                                                LB Charles Snowden/Virginia

LB Isaiah McDuffie/Boston College                                                   LB James Skalski/Clemson

CB Asante Samuel/Florida State                                                        CB Ifeatu Melifonwu/Syracuse

CB Derion Kendrick/Clemson                                                            CB Andrew Booth Jr/Clemson

 S Divine Deablo/Virginia Tech                                                              S Kyle Hamilton/Notre Dame

 S Nolan Turner/Clemson                                                                      S Damar Hamlin/Pittsburgh

1^ST TEAM SPECIALISTS                                                                          2^ND TEAM SPECIALISTS

 K Jose Borregales/Miami                                                                     K Christopher Dunn/NC State

 P Kirk Christodoulou/Pittsburgh                                                        P Lou Hedley/Miami

RS Khalil Herbert/Virginia Tech                                                          RS Nykeim Johnson/Syracuse

 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trevor Lawrence/Clemson                  

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/Notre Dame

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Calijah Kancey/Pittsburgh

COACH OF THE YEAR: Dave Doeren/NC State

 

Ranked Wolfpack And Irish Ready For Elimination Contest

Just how much is on the line in this Saturday's tussle between 14th-ranked North Carolina State and No. 9 Notre Dame?

I'll take "College Football Playoff elimination games for $800, Alex."

After early stumbles, both teams have reset and gotten themselves back into the playoff discussion. The Wolfpack, seen as a chic pick to upset the ACC hierarchy, lost right off the bat to South Carolina, but have been nails ever since.

Notre Dame RB Josh Adams fuels a powerful Irish offense (One Foot Down)

Notre Dame (6-1), mostly an afterthought at the start of the season based largely on last year's 4-8 fiasco, has ascended up the rankings thanks to a powerful ground game -- the nation's sixth best, as a matter of fact -- and has only a one-point loss to Georgia as a blemish.

While both teams are aware of the carrot dangling overhead, neither is ready to deviate from the blueprint that has taken them to this point.

"You just have to be aware of your situation," Irish coach Brian Kelly said. "You've gotten here because you have stuck to what we have asked you to do. They're aware of the big picture stuff, but they know how they got here, and they like where they're at."

NC State (6-1) has reeled off six victories in a row and has been stingy when it comes to giving up the football. The Wolfpack have lost just three fumbles, and quarterback Ryan Finley has yet to throw an interception. Yeah, he's pretty good.

This is the first real spotlight game of the season for the Wolfpack, and coach Dave Doeren believes they will handle it well.

"All we have been talking about is us and our enemy," Doeren said. "All that other stuff will take care of itself. You focus on what has brought you success. People are chasing you instead of you chasing them."

The Wolfpack, sixth nationally against the run, allowing just 91.3 yards per game, need to make sure they aren't chasing Notre Dame running back Josh Adams, who has entered the Heisman race by rolling up 138.1 yards per game and scoring eight touchdowns. The explosive Adams averages 9.2 yards per carry, and in tandem with quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who averages 6.2 yards per carry with 10 rushing scores, forms the crux of an overpowering ground game.

"I'm excited to watch the line of scrimmage in this game," Doeren said.

Notre Dame thrives on getting teams to turn the football over, ranking fourth in turnover margin. The Irish have converted 13 of their 17 turnovers into touchdowns, but face a tough customer in Finley.

The senior and former Boise State signal-caller has tossed 11 touchdowns and is completing 69.4 percent of his passes. He has a bevy of weapons, notably Jaylen Samuels (54 catches, 453 yards, 3 TDs) and Kelvin Harmon (36-547-2 TD), and the offensive line has allowed just eight sacks.

"Finley is smart, knows the system, a veteran quarterback," Kelly said. "Just does a really good job taking care of the football."

NC State also has a nice backfield weapon in Nyheim Hines, who averages 92.6 yards per game and has six touchdowns, but it wouldn't be surprising if the visitors attempt to take advantage of an Irish defense that allows 253 yards per game through the air.

Adams and Wimbush will be a huge focus for the Wolfpack defense, which is led by versatile end Bradley Chubb. The senior has 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks and leads a group that knows just one speed -- full-go. His matchup with Irish tackle Mike McGlinchey should be worth the price of admission.

NC State's Bradley Chubb is one of the nation's most feared DL (Shanahan Report)

"Defensively, you know, I think as good of a group that we're going to see. Comparable to Georgia," Kelly said. "Physically very imposing. It's led with Chubb and [B.J.] Hill up front. Obviously they're getting the accolades that they deserve. They are very good football players.

"Chubb obviously has the ability to rush the passer, as well, plays with a great motor. I think what I'm impressed with is that not only they're physical, but they play hard every snap. ... We've got our hands full in all three facets."

Notre Dame is coming off of a dominating performance over rival USC, but NC State is the beginning of a stretch of grueling games against winning teams. Notre Dame has games upcoming against No. 8 Miami, Navy and Stanford.

The Irish have won five straight games by more than 20 points, but lost to NC State a year ago 10-3 in Raleigh in monsoon-like conditions.

North Carolina State shouldn't be fazed by the number next to the Irish, as it already sports a pair of victories over teams that were ranked -- Florida State and Louisville. It hasn't beaten three ranked teams in a single season since 1992, and this is the first time since 1980 that the Wolfpack are involved in a game featuring a pair of top 15 teams.

The Wolfpack has everything in its path, but needs to guard against looking ahead because next week is a home game against ACC champion Clemson -- a contest that could very well determine the Atlantic Division title.

Doeren doesn't have to be reminded what is awaiting his team at Notre Dame Stadium.

"It's a top 10 team at their stadium, it means a lot," he said. "We don't need to be perfect. We just need to be better."

Doeren may be in Raleigh, but he's no stranger to the Notre Dame mystique.

“I grew up in a Catholic home, going to Catholic church and that was part of the Sunday conversation,” Doeren said. “Every week it was the Notre Dame score, so I grew up brainwashed there, probably, with Lou Holtz as their head coach and a lot of great players that I got to watch. I really look forward to playing this game.”

Ranked Wolfpack Have Tough Task Vs No. 17 Cardinals

 It's not often that fans can say "ranked" and "North Carolina State" in the same sentence.

 The 24th-ranked Wolfpack have crept into the AP Top 25 for the first time since the final poll of the 2010 season, which is great. Except that there might not be time to savor it -- or be in the rankings too long -- because they have a Thursday night showdown against No. 17 Louisville at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Ryan Finley's steady play has helped NC State win four straight (News & Observer)

NC State (4-1, 2-0) came into the year as a chic pick to make some noise on the national scene, then promptly went out and lost its opener to an offensively challenged South Carolina squad. Typical Wolfpack.

To its credit, NC State has won four in a row, including a victory over Florida State, and appears to have righted the ship. Atypical Wolfpack.

“I just think it’s a different team,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “It’s an experienced football team.”

 Stopping Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson will be paramount if any victory celebration is to take place.

 “This will be a tremendous opportunity and challenge for our guys,” Doeren said. “We have to do a good job of containing him. He runs through contact. … He has great weapons around him.”

 Ryan Finley has played smart football, throwing nine touchdowns to zero interceptions for the Wolfpack. His 71.9 completion percentage is ninth best nationally, and he hasn't thrown an interception in 192 passes this year. Going back to last season, Finley hasn't thrown to the wrong team in 275 attempts, his last coming in the second half against Miami last November.

“He’s playing smart,” Doeren said. “He has got lucky, too. He has had a couple (potential interceptions) dropped.”

 When Finley absolutely, positively has to have a completion, he looks to Jaylen Samuels, whose 43 catches is third nationally. Samuels is also a weapon in the ground game, scoring five times on rushing plays, and eight times altogether this season. Samuels is the lead dog, but Kelvin Harmon and Stephen Louis both have over 20 receptions, and the return of Jacobi Meyers last week added even more firepower to the Wolfpack attack.

 Louisville (4-1, 1-1) has only a loss to Clemson as a blemish, and since being held to 21 points against the Tigers has exploded for 97 points in its last two contests. The Cardinals enter the game fourth in the nation in total offense, averaging 573.4 yards per game, and their 7.59 yards per play figure is fifth best.

 That means NC State will need to play better defensively than it did last week, when it allowed 25 points and 444 yards to Syracuse.

 Louisville has won three straight in the series, and three in a row, including last year's 54-13 rout that was over before it ever started. The previous two games were by two scores or fewer.

 “We’ve had some great battles with them,” Cardinal coach Bobby Petrino said. “Last year we got ahead of them early and that helped us.”

Lamar Jackson has improved his passing in 2017 (Courier-Journal)

 As good as Jackson is running the football -- 87.4 yards per game -- he's become more polished as a passer. the senior has thrown for 642 yards and 13 touchdowns, and Louisville's 365.2 yards per game through the air ranks sixth nationally. With NC State being absolutely abysmal against the pass -- 284.8 yards per game, 117th in the country -- there could be a lot of footballs flying through the nighttime air in Raleigh.

 Traveon Samuel has been Jackson's big play weapons, averaging 18.7 yards per grab, and Dez Fitzpatrick has been a touchdown machine, scoring six times on 16 catches.

 Louisville could have its hands full with the Wolfpack pass rush, led by Bradley Chubb, who tops the country in tackles for loss (11) and is fourth in sacks (5.5). He's a one-man wrecking crew with enough versatility to drop into coverage and to play against the run.

 Finley could have his work cut out this week as Louisville will likely regain the services of All-America corner Jaire Alexander. The electric junior has missed much of the first half of the season with a leg injury, but returned to practice this week. Finley will also need to be wary of end John Greenard, who has five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss.

 Nyheim Hines has been the top running threat for NC State, averaging 82.2 yards per game and scoring three times.

 NC State is just 1-10 against ranked teams under Doeren, and it's last victory in Raleigh in a game featuring two ranked teams came in 1992, against Wake Forest. Petrino is 14-0 against North Carolina schools in his time at Louisville.

 If there is one chink in the Cardinals armor, it's turnovers. Louisville has already lost seven fumbles, and is minus-.40 in turnover margin. NC State is 15th in the nation in turnover margin, so getting the football from the explosive Cardinals would give it a leg up.

 The winner of this contest will keep division leader in sight, and its especially important for the Wolfpack, which has a winnable game with Pittsburgh next week before taking on Clemson the first weekend in November.

 Petrino knows that his team won't be able to just waltz into Raleigh and expect a victory, even with history on its side.

 “It’s competitive,” Petrino said of the Atlantic Division. “It doesn’t really surprise me because N.C. State is really good. We know how important this one is."