Clemson Football: ACC Superlatives – 2022 Season

With the ACC Championship of Clemson football against North Carolina this Saturday (12/3/22), there’s no better time to revisit the season and give out the (My) Rubbing The Rock All-Conference Teams as well as Players/Coach(es) of the Year in the Atlantic Coast Conference:

Co-ACC Coaches of the Year: Mike Norvell, Florida State / Mike Elko, Duke

I don’t believe there is any debate on which coaches had the best seasons in the conference.  Mike Norvell went through a tough time in the middle third of the season, however, instead of packing it in, as we’ve seen in Tallahassee in the past, this Norvell-led team righted the ship and is arguably the best team in the conference at this time.

Mike Elko came to Duke from Texas A&M and got 8 wins out of his Blue Devils team.  A perennial bottom dweller in the ACC, Elko led his team to a 2nd place finish in the Coastal Division.  And this is in year 1.  A lot of positives to take into the future for the Blue Devils.

Now onto the players:

Offense:

1st Team                                                                                                                2nd Team

QB – Drake Maye, UNC                                                                                 Jordan Travis, FSU

RB – Israel Abanikanda, Pitt                                                                        Sean Tucker, Syr

RB – Will Shipley, Clemson                                                                          Trey Benson, FSU

WR – Josh Downs, UNC                                                                                 Jared Wayne, Pitt

WR – Zay Flowers, BC                                                                                   Jordan Moore, Duke

WR – A.T. Perry, Wake Forest                                                                      Tyler Hudson, Lou

TE – Orande Gadsden II, Syracuse                                                             Will Mallory, Miami

OL – Jordan McFadden, Clemson                                                               Will Putnam, CU

OL – Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse                                                            Dillon Gibbons, FSU

OL – Jacob Monk, Duke                                                                                 Grant Gibson, NC St

OL – Marcus Minor, Pitt                                                                                Maurice Smith, FSU

OL – Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest                                                           Caleb Chandler, Lou

Offensive Player of the Year: Israel Abanikanda, Pitt

Offensive Freshman of the Year: Drake Maye, UNC

Defense:

1st Team                                                                                                            2nd Team

DL – Jared Verse, FSU                                                                            TyJuan Garbutt, VT

DL – Donovan Ezeiruaku, BC                                                                Chico Bennett, UVA

DL – Calijah Kancey, Pitt                                                                        Tyler Davis, Clemson

DL – KJ Henry, Clemson                                                                         Deslin Alexandre, Pitt

LB – SirVocea Dennis, Pitt                                                                     Barrett Carter, CU

LB – Isaiah Moore, NC State                                                                 Drake Thomas, NC St

LB – Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech                                                     Mikel Jones, Syracuse

DB – Kamren Kinchens, Miami                                                             Jammie Robinson, FSU

DB – Jaylen Stinson, Duke                                                                     Storm Duck, UNC

DB – DeAndre Boykins, UNC                                                                 Aydan White, NC State

DB – Brandon Hill, Pitt                                                                            Garrett Williams, Syr

Defensive Player of the Year: SirVocea Dennis, Pitt

Defensive Freshman of the Year: Wesley Bissainthe, Miami

Special Teams:

1st Team                                                                                                           2nd Team

K – Christopher Dunn, NC St                                                                     BT Potter, CU

P – Lou Hedley, Miami                                                                                Ben Kiernan, UNC

KR – Trebor Pena, Syracuse                                                                      Jaylen Stinson, Duke

PR – MJ Devonshire, Pitt                                                                            Mycah Pittman, FSU

Best Transfer of the Year, Offense: Trey Benson, RB, FSU

Best Transfer of the Year, Defense: Jared Verse, DE, FSU