After winning the league’s top two awards last week in a vote by the media, University of Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson swept the Atlantic Coast Conference Awardson Thursday in a vote by the 14 league head coaches.
Leading the Cardinals to a 7-1 league mark, the coaches honored Jackson as the league’s Player and Offensive Player of the Year in the ACC this season. The sophomore signal caller was also the league’s first-team quarterback.
Outside linebacker Devonte Fields was the other first-team selection, while tight end Cole Hikituini, cornerback Jaire Alexander, and safety Josh Harvey-Clemons were second-team honorees. Wide receiver James Quick and offensive linemen Geron Christian and Kiola Mahoni were third-team selections on offense, and defensive tackle DeAngelo Brown, linebacker Keith Kelsey and safety Chucky Williams also were honored on the third-team.
Running back Brandon Radcliff and center Tobijah Hughley both earned honorable mention accolades.
In guiding the Cardinals to a 9-3 overall record, Jackson finished the regular season holding ACC and school records with 51 touchdowns responsible for (30 passing, 21 rushing), rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,538, and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 21. He tied an ACC mark with eight touchdowns in the season-opening win over Charlotte, including matching a school mark with six touchdown passes.
A finalist for the Maxwell, Manning, and O’Brien awards, Jackson shattered Louisville’s single-season record for rushing yards in a season, and his eight 100-yard rushing games also broke a school mark.
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native, Jackson has passed for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns and is two scores shy of breaking Teddy Bridgewater’s single-season mark. Jackson totaled a pair of 400-yard passing games this season: a career-best 417 yards in a win on the road at Marshall on Sept. 24, and 411 yards in a victory at Syracuse on Sept. 9.
He amassed an ACC-record 610 total yards in a win over Syracuse, a game in which he came within one rushing yard of becoming the first player in FBS history to run for 400 yards and pass for 200 yards in the same game.
A Fort Worth, Texas, native, Fields, who started 11 games at outside linebacker, was credited with 42 tackles and was second on the team with 5.0 sacks. Fields was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after his performance against Wake Forest, totaling 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in a 44-12 win.
Hikutini, a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, finished the regular season with 49 receptions for 656 yards from his tight end spot, with a team-best eight touchdowns. The Sacramento, Calif., native recorded two 100-yard receiving games, including a career-best 118 yards versus NC State on Oct. 22.
Capping the regular season in the top 10 in interceptions, Alexander recorded a career-best five picks this year – picking off multiple passes in a loss to Clemson on Oct. 1 and a win over Virginia on Oct. 29.
Despite missing two games with an injury, Harvey-Clemons tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 61 and added a pair of sacks. He posted a season-high 11 tackles in consecutive games versus Marshall and Clemson. Williams, the other starting safety, was third on the squad with 66 tackles and was second on the team with three interceptions.
A Louisville native, Quick totaled a career-high 42 receptions for 688 yards and six touchdowns. He totaled two 100-yard games, recording 108 yards in a win at Syracuse and followed that performance with 122 yards in a 63-20 victory over Florida State.
Christian, who started all 12 games at offensive tackle, and Mahoni, a starter in 12 contests at guard, have been key figures on offense, helping the Cardinals lead the nation in scoring offense at 45.3 points per game. The team ranked second in total offense at 558.8 yards per game, while setting a school record with 3,081 rushing yards.
Anchoring the middle of the defense, Brown, a starter in all 12 games, recorded 37 tackles and a team-high 12.0 tackles for loss, while also notching 3.0 sacks.
In his third season as a starter, Kelsey leads the team with 81 tackles, and registered five or more tackles in all five games. He enters the postseason with 299 career tackles, while Williams was third on the squad with 66 tackles and was second on the team with three interceptions.
Radcliff was second on the squad with 877 yards and six touchdowns – posting four 100-yard games, including a career-high 156 yards in a win over Syracuse, while Hughley, who was an All-ACC academic selection, started all 12 games at center.
The Cardinals will return to action on Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. in the 2016 Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Player of the Year
Lamar Jackson, Louisville, QB, So., Louisville (9)
Deshaun Watson, QB, Jr., Clemson (2)
Dalvin Cook, RB, Jr., Florida State (2)
James Conner, Pitt, RB, Jr.-R, Pitt (1)
Offensive Player of the Year
Lamar Jackson, QB, So., Louisville (9)
Deshaun Watson, QB, Jr., Clemson (2)
Dalvin Cook, RB, Jr., Florida State (2)
James Conner, RB, Jr.-R, Pitt (1)
Defensive Player of the Year
Ben Boulware, LB, Sr., Clemson (4)
DeMarcus Walker, DE, Sr., Florida State (4)
Ejuan Price, DE, Sr.-R, Pitt (3)
Christian Wilkins, DE, So., Clemson (2)
Duke Ejiofor, Jr.-R, DE, Wake Forest (1)
Rookie of the Year
Deondre Francois, QB, Fr.-R, Florida State (8)
Dexter Lawrence, DT, Fr., Clemson (4)
Ahmmon Richards, WR, Fr., Miami (1)
Daniel Jones, QB, Fr.-R, Duke (1)
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Deondre Francois, QB, Fr.-R, Florida State (9)
Ahmmon Richards, WR, Fr., Miami (3)
Daniel Jones, QB, Fr.-R, Duke (1)
Dedrick Mills, RB, Fr., Georgia Tech (1)
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Dexter Lawrence, DT, Fr., Clemson (8)
Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Fr., Miami (2)
Joe Jackson, LB, Fr., Miami (2)
Jessie Bates, SS, Fr.-R, Wake Forest (2)
Coach of the Year
Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech (9)
Dabo Swinney, Clemson (4)
Dave Clawson, Wake Forest (1)
First Team Offense
WR Mike Williams, Jr.-R, Clemson (38)
WR Amba Etta-Tawo, Sr.-R, Syracuse (33)
WR Ryan Switzer, Sr., North Carolina (32)
TE Jordan Leggett, Sr., Clemson (29)
T Roderick Johnson, Jr., Florida State (34)
T Adam Bisnowaty, Sr.-R, Pitt (28)
G Dorian Johnson, Sr., Pitt (32)
G Tyrone Crowder, Jr.-R, Clemson (27)
C Jay Guillermo, Sr.-R, Clemson (27)
QB Lamar Jackson, So. Louisville (35)
RB Dalvin Cook, Jr., Florida State (38)
RB James Conner, Jr.-R, Pitt (35)
K Joey Slye, Jr., Virginia Tech (24)
Sp. Quadree Henderson, So., Pitt (32)
Second Team Offense
WR Isaiah Ford, Jr., Virginia Tech (27)
WR Travis Rudolph, Jr., Florida State (18)
WR Artavis Scott, Jr., Clemson (16)
TE Cole Hikutini, Sr., Louisville (19)
T Mitch Hyatt, So., Clemson (27)
T Brian O’Neill, So.-R, Pitt (15)
G Tony Adams, Jr., NC State (19)
G (tie) Danny Isidora, Sr., Miami (17)
G (tie) Kareem Are, Sr.-R, Florida State (17)
C Lucas Crowley, Sr., North Carolina (13)
QB Deshaun Watson, Jr., Clemson (27)
RB Wayne Gallman, Jr.-R, Clemson (26)
RB Matthew Dayes, Sr., NC State (22)
K Greg Huegel, So.-R., Clemson (14)
Sp. Brisly Estime, Sr., Syracuse (17)
Third Team Offense
WR Ahmmon Richards, Fr., Miami (14)
WR James Quick, Jr., Louisville (13)
WR Stacy Coley, Sr., Miami (13)
TE (tie) Jaylen Samuels, Jr., NC State (10)
TE (tie) Bucky Hodges, Jr.-R, Virginia Tech (10)
T Geron Christian, So., Louisville (13)
T (tie) Jonathan McLaughlin, Sr., Virginia Tech (11)
T (tie) Jon Heck, Sr., North Carolina (11)
G Augie Conte, Sr.-R, Virginia Tech (12)
G Kiola Mahoni, Sr., Louisville (10)
C Freddie Burden, Sr.-R, Georgia Tech (10)
QB Mitch Trubisky, Jr.-R, North Carolina (11)
RB Mark Walton, So., Miami (14)
RB Elijah Hood, Jr., North Carolina (13)
K Michael Badgley, Jr., Miami (12)
Sp. Ryan Switzer, Sr., North Carolina (12)
Honorable Mention: Offense (7 or more points):
RB–Brandon Radcliff, Sr., Louisville (7); WR–Bug Howard, Sr., North Carolina (9); Ervin Philips, Jr., Syracuse (8); Quadree Henderson, So., Pitt (7); G– Alex Bookser, So.-R, Pitt (7); Wyatt Teller, Jr.-R, Virginia Tech (7); C–Tobijah Hughley, Sr., Louisville (8); PK–Ricky Aguayo, Fr., Florida State (8); Chris Blewitt, Sr., Pitt (8); Mike Weaver, Jr.-R, Wake Forest (8); SP–Greg Stroman, Jr., Virginia Tech (8).
First Team Defense
DE DeMarcus Walker, Sr., Florida State (31)
DE Ejuan Price, Sr.-R, Pitt (29)
DT Carlos Watkins, Sr.-R, Clemson (36)
DT Derrick Nnadi, Jr., Florida State (24)
LB Ben Boulware, Sr., Clemson (37)
LB Micah Kiser, Jr., Virginia (24)
LB Devonte Fields, Sr., Louisville (19)
CB Tarvarus McFadden, So., Florida State (35)
CB (tie) Cordrea Tankersley, Sr., Clemson (24)
CB (tie) Corn Elder, Sr., Miami (24)
S Jadar Johnson, Sr., Clemson (29)
S Quin Blanding, Jr., Virginia (27)
P Nicholas Conte, Sr., Virginia (32)
Second Team Defense
DE Harold Landry, Jr., Boston College (27)
DE Bradley Chubb, Jr., NC State (22)
DT Dexter Lawrence, Fr., Clemson (21)
DT Woody Baron, Sr., Virginia Tech (19)
LB Andrew Motuapuaka, Jr.-R, Virginia Tech (17)
LB Tremaine Edmunds, So., Virginia Tech (17)
LB Marquel Lee, Sr., Wake Forest (17)
CB Jaire Alexander, So., Louisville (22)
CB Greg Stroman, Jr., Virginia Tech (14)
S Jordan Whitehead, So., Pitt (22)
S Josh Harvey-Clemons, Sr., Louisville (14)
P Justin Vogel, Sr., Miami (28)
Third Team Defense
DE Christian Wilkins, So., Clemson (20)
DE Duke Ejiofor, Jr.-R, Wake Forest (15)
DT DeAngelo Brown, Sr.-R, Louisville (15)
DT Kendrick Norton, So., Miami (8)
LB Ben Humphreys, So., Duke (16)
LB Keith Kelsey, Sr., Louisville (15)
LB Shaquille Quarterman, Fr., Miami (12)
CB Breon Borders, Sr., Duke (9)
CB Des Lawrence, Sr., North Carolina (8)
S Jessie Bates, Fr.-R, Wake Forest (13)
S (tie) Chucky Williams, Sr., Louisville (8)
S (tie) Van Smith, So., Clemson (8)
P Dom Maggio, Fr., Wake Forest (9)
Honorable Mention: Defense: (7 or more points)
DE–Ken Ekanem, Sr.-R, Virginia Tech (8); DT–Justin Jones, Jr., NC State (7); LB–Zaire Franklin, Jr., Syracuse (11); Matt Milano, Sr., Boston College (9); Andre Smith, So., North Carolina (8); Matthew Thomas, Jr.-R, Florida State (8); Joe Giles-Harris, Fr., Duke (8); Jacob Pugh, Jr., Florida State (8); CB–M.J. Stewart, Jr, North Carolina (7); S–Donnie Miles, Jr., North Carolina (7); Terrell Edmunds, So.-R, Virginia Tech (7); Trey Marshall, Jr., Florida State (7); P–Sterling Hofrichter, Fr.-R, Syracuse (7).
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