2022 Pre-Season ALL-ACC Team

As usual we start the 2022 season with our All-Conference selections. Today we will be covering my picks for the 2022 Pre-Season ALL-ACC Team. Will anyone from your squad make the cut? Read on to see…

Quarterback – Sam Hartman Wake Forest

Sam Hartman is a very talented QB who was often overlooked last season. According to ESPN, he threw for 4,228 yards and 39 touchdowns. When watching his film, I was impressed with what I saw, especially when it comes to his mental processing. He has good field vision and pocket awareness which allows him to pick apart defenses with ease. I was also impressed with his ability to put his body on the line if it leads to a completion. Although I do have questions about his accuracy, I think he will have a great 2022-23 season. 

Running Back – Sean Tucker Syracuse

Sean Tucker is going into this season with big shoes to fill due to his incredible 2021 season. Tucker ran for 1,496 yards and 12 touchdowns on 246 carries and I expect him to be just as productive this season.  What makes Tucker so impressive is his elusiveness and instincts. When watching his film, I was impressed with his ability to shed tackles and break defenders’ ankles. I also love his acceleration and his ability to punish defenses when given any open space. Personally, I think that he will have a very impressive 2022 season and could be a 2nd round pick. 

Running Back – Will Shipley Clemson

During the 2021 season, Will Shipley racked up a total of 739 rushing yards as well as 11 rushing touchdowns. Shipley stands out to me when watching Clemson because he has a solid blend of speed and power. This allows him to be very hard for the defenders to predict and get a hand on. I expect him to have around 800 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs while also racking up 200 receiving yards. I should also mention that his receiving yards will all depend on how well D.J. Uiagalelei plays this season. 

Wide Receiver – Josh Downs UNC

When watching his film, Down’s play style reminds me a lot of Jahan Dotson, the former Penn St. receiver. Both players have very good athletic ability with good acceleration and explosiveness off the snap. Although his hands aren’t as good as Jahan’s, I think that Downs has potential to move up a lot of draft boards. Last season, Downs racked up 1,335 yards and 8 TDs in 101 receptions. Even though Sam Howell is gone, I expect Downs’ productivity to decline, but be very impressive nonetheless. 

Wide Receiver – A.T. Perry Wake Forest

A.T. Perry is one of the most intriguing wide receivers in the nation. He has tremendous size. standing at 6’5” and weighing 206 lbs. This allows him to be a vertical threat and to make a play over most corners in the nation. Perry has strong hands and body control that allow him to make a play on the ball when contested. For his size, I am also very impressed by his explosiveness off the line and straight-line speed. Last season, Perry racked up 1,293 yards and 15 touchdowns and he was sharing snaps with Jaquarii Roberson. Therefore, I expect him to have a tremendous upcoming season. 

Wide Receiver – Dontayvion Wicks Virginia

Last season, Wicks was one of the most productive receivers in the conference. He racked up 1,203 yards and 9 TDs on just 57 receptions. A big reason why he is so productive is because of his route running, athletic ability and hands. It may seem obvious that every receiver needs all of these skills to be productive, but that’s not always true. Meanwhile, Wicks is very proficient in all of these areas. Although Virginia lost a few key players to the draft, I expect them to have a solid season. Personally, I think that they will be relying heavily on Wicks to carry their offense. 

Tight End – Marshon Ford Louisville

Marshon Ford is one of my favorite tight ends in the nation because of how versatile he is. Although some people have questions about his height, being only 6’2”, I honestly don’t think that it should be a factor. When watching his film, he has all of the tools needed to be an effective tight end. Although he may be slightly undersized, he is a very good run blocker. He does a good job of acting as a lead blocker by getting to the second level of the field. When he gets there, he does a good job of using his knowledge of angles by manipulating the defender’s body. This often opens up a wide-open lane for the running back to burst through.

He is also an effective receiver for the Cardinals as well. Last season, he racked up 550 yards and 2 touchdowns in just 49 receptions. These stats may not be very eye popping, but I should remind you that Louisville plays a run heavy offense. 

Offensive Tackle – Jordan McFadden Clemson

Jordan McFadden is a special offensive line talent for the Clemson Tigers. When watching his film, I was blown away by his aggressiveness off the snap on run plays. He does a good job at attacking the hip of the defender when drive blocking. This forces the defender off balance and often opens up lanes for Shipley to run through.

I was also blown away by how strong he is at the point of attack. In pass protection, he is often the first one to engage in contact which will often throw the defender off. This immediately gives McFadden leverage to finish the block. He also has very good hand placement in pass protection schemes. He places his outside hand on the bicep of the defender and his inside hand on the opposite peck. This allows him to contain the defender or drop the anchor against the bull rush. 

Offensive Tackle – Carter Warren Pitt

Carter Warren is a very impressive pass blocker for the Panthers. I was impressed with how versatile he was during the 2021 season. He played a total of 1,057 snaps and played 795 of those snaps at tackle and 262 snaps on the inside. When watching his film, I was impressed with his ability to drop the anchor against the bull rush. He has a low center of gravity, which allows him to dig his feet in and force the defender upward. I was also impressed with his ability to lock out and control EDGE rushers. His long and strong arms allow him to get his hands in the right position and stabilize the defender. 

Offensive Guard – Caleb Chandler Louisville

Caleb Chandler was one of the best guards in the nation last season. When watching his film, I realized he has the ideal build for a guard. He stands at 6’4” and weighs 313 lbs with his body mass being distributed evenly throughout his body. This means that he has good upper and lower body musculature. which allows him to be effective in any scheme. He has good quickness, balance and explosiveness off the snap in both pass and run blocking. This allows him to be the first one to engage in contact and gain leverage before the defender can react. 

Offensive Guard – DJ Scaife Jr. Miami

When watching his film from the 2021 season, I found that Scaife is a very good pass blocker. He does a good job at diagnosing the rush before the snap and identifying who he should block. In pass protection, he is good at keeping his pad level low so he can drive the defender upward. This allows Van Dyke to have maximum time in the pocket to work through his progressions. He is also pretty effective against the bull rush due to his ability to drop his anchor and hold his ground. He also has solid play speed which allows him to execute his blocking assignments quickly. 

Center – Olusegun Oluwatimi Virginia

Olusegun Oluwatimi is one of the most impressive run blockers in the nation. However, I should mention that I will need to see more from him in run blocking. Last season, he played a total of 910 snaps and only 246 of them were running snaps. But, from what I have seen, I was very impressed with his physicality and technique off the snap. When he snaps the ball, he does a good job of driving forward and getting his hands high on the defender’s pads. He is also good at reading and diagnosing the defensive coverage prior to the snap. This allows him to anticipate what the defense in going to do and allowing his instincts to do the rest. 

Defensive End – Myles Murphy Clemson

Myles Murphy is not only a top EDGE in the ACC, he is the 2nd best EDGE in the nation. When watching his film from the 2021 season, I couldn’t help but realize how physical he is off the snap. He is a tremendous run defender who penetrates the offensive line by using a blend of power and speed. He does a good job of using finesse moves to work towards the inside and make a stop on zone runs. This shows that he has great instincts and adaptability when in games because of his natural playmaking ability. So, expect Murphy to make a lot of noise this upcoming season. 

Defensive End – Habakkuk Baldonado Pitt

Habakkuk Baldonado is one of the most athletic EDGE rushers in the ACC. He stands at 6’5” and weighs 260 lbs. with a thin frame for his size. This thin frame allows him to be quicker on his feet and slip through cracks in the O-Line. He has long arms which allow him to reach outside of a block and make a tackle. Off the line, he has good explosiveness and acceleration which allows him to gain outside leverage. Last season, Baldonado was a dangerous pass rusher, racking up a total of 9 sacks. He also had 41 total tackles (25 solo) and 1 forced fumble. 

Defensive Tackle – Bryan Bresee Clemson

If there is one word I had to use to describe Bresee’s game, I would use relentless. When watching his film, he stood out on almost every play. He has tremendous physicality and toughness that allows him to be an elite pass rusher and run stopper. When he is rushing the pocket, he does a good job of keeping his eyes on the QB. This allows him to predict and see what the QB is going to do. Then, he can adjust his move set accordingly to pressure the QB. Although I mentioned how physical he is, his speed is often overlooked. He will likely not blow you away with his 40 time, but his 10-yard split will open some eyes. 

Defensive Tackle – Calijah Kancey Pitt

Calijah Kancey had an incredible 2021 season where he racked up 33 tackles, 7 sacks and a forced fumble. Out of those 33 tackles, 23 were solo and 13 of them were for a loss. He does a good job of penetrating the offensive line by bull rushing and forcing the offensive lineman upwards. This allows him to pressure the QB and force them to make a mistake or get sacked.

Personally, I think that Kancey can be an impact player at the next level. He has a high motor and passion for the game which motivates the people around him. In the NFL, his position will solely vary on what scheme he has to play in. He would be best fit as a 4-3 DT or a 3-4 DE, this would allow him to be a solid complimentary piece. Overall, I expect a solid season from Kancey this upcoming season. 

Linebacker – Drake Thomas NC State

Drake Thomas is a very versatile inside linebacker for NC State. When watching his film, I was impressed with his ability to stuff the run and play zone coverage. He has solid field vision and awareness which allows him to be a menace on the field. To paint a better picture, last season he racked up 99 total tackles. Out of these tackles, 48 were solo and he also had 6 sacks and 3 interceptions. Thomas has drastically improved his game every year he has played and I expect him to make an even bigger jump. 

Linebacker – Mikel Jones Syracuse

Although Syracuse had a disappointing 2021 season, it was not due to Mikel Jones’ lack of production. According to ESPN, Jones racked up 109 total tackles (59 solo) and 3 sacks. When watching his film, I was impressed with how good he was at making open field tackles. This allows him to be very effective in zone coverage as well as making a tackle behind the line. He plays with a high motor and a lot of aggressiveness. From the snap until the whistle is blown, he plays on all cylinders. This upcoming season, I can see him racking up a total of 115 tackles with about 60 solo. I think this would be enough for him to gain lots of attention from NFL scouts. 

Linebacker – Yasir Abdullah Louisville

Yasir Abdullah is a very explosive outside linebacker for Louisville. He has a very good reaction time, which allows him to get a good jump off the snap. This allows him to stuff the run behind the line of scrimmage out of a 2- and 3-point stance. He does a good job of using finesse moves to shed blocks and penetrate the backfield.

During the 2021 season, Abdullah racked up 61 total tackles (43 solo), 10 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. Overall, I expect Abdullah to have a very impressive 2022 season. I also would not be surprised if you heard his name called next April. 

Cornerback – Josh DeBerry Boston College

During the 2021 season, Josh DeBerry played a majority of his snaps from the slot. According to PFF, DeBerry had an 88.4 run defense grade. This ranked him as the 14th best run defender out of all cornerbacks in the nation. When watching his film, I was impressed with his ability to slip past the line of scrimmage. He is also good in the middle of the field, whether that be in coverage or making an open field tackle. All of these skills allow him to be one of the best slot corners in the ACC.

Personally, I think that DeBerry will have a better overall season than last season. In order for this to be the case, he needs to work on his pass rushing and man coverage from the outside. 

Cornerback – Kei’Trel Clark Louisville 

Kei’Trel Clark only played 8 games last season due to suffering a torn ACL against NC State on October 30th. Prior to this injury, Clark was seen as one of the top cover corners in the nation. When watching his film, it was easy to see why that was the case. In only 8 games, Clark racked up 30 solo tackles, 9 passes defensed and 3 interceptions.

He has incredible instincts being able to keep track of where the opposing receiver is going. He is also good at reading the QB’s eyes and being able to make a play on the ball. This upcoming season, I would not be shocked if Clark racks up 70 tackles, 5 interceptions and 11 passes defensed. 

Cornerback – Tony Grimes North Carolina

I decided to put Tony Grimes on this team because of the upside that he has. Last season he did not have the best stats but, he has the physical tools to make an impact. After watching his film, I was impressed with his ability to play press man coverage. He does a good job of disrupting the wide receiver at the line of scrimmage forcing them off their route. Grimes is also good at using his inside leverage to force the receiver outside so he can get positioned to make a play. Last season, Grimes only had 47 tackles (36 solo) and 9 passes defensed. Although these stats are not very impressive, I expect him to have a solid 2022 season. 

Safety – Jammie Robinson Florida St.

Jammie Robinson was my favorite safety to watch from the ACC during the 2021 season. I loved his ability to cover lots of ground and be able to make a play on the ball. Last season, Robinson had 84 total tackles (42 solo), 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 3 passes defensed.

When watching his film, I was impressed with his awareness and instinct when in deep coverage. He does a good job of scanning the field and watching the play develop in front of him and adjusting accordingly. That is a big reason why he was able to get 4 interceptions last season. He could scan the field and read what the QB was going to do. 

Safety – Brandon Hill Pitt

Although Brandon Hill is not as good of a deep coverage safety, he is tremendous in the run game. He does a good job of using his tremendous athleticism to shed blocks and make a tackle. According to PFF, Hill played 796 total snaps in 2021. He was very versatile to say the least this season, lining up in 3 primary locations. 340 of his snaps were from the box, 259 were as a free safety and 193 were in the slot. Hopefully Pitt use him this way again this season because the NFL is starting to rely on versatile Safeties. 

Kicker – B.T. Potter Clemson

I expect B.T. Potter to be the best kicker in the ACC because of how productive he was in 2021. Last season, Potter made 21 out of 26 total field goals as well as making all 38 extra points. According to ESPN, he made 10 out of 11 40-49 yard field goals while also making 2/3 50+ yard field goals. 

Punter – Ivan Mora Wake Forest

Last season, Mora was very consistent to say the least. When looking at his stats, I was impressed to see that he averaged around 40-45 yards per punt. He only had one game where he averaged less than 40 yards per punt. 

Honorable Mentions

Quarterback – Malik Cunningham Louisville

Running Back – Dontae Smith Georgia Tech

Wide Receiver – Keytaon Thompson Virginia

Tight End – Gavin Bartholomew Pitt

Offensive Tackle – Parker Clements Virginia Tech

Offensive Guard – Chris Glaser Virginia

Center – Jack Wohlabaugh Duke

Defensive End – Xavier Thomas Clemson

Defensive Tackle – Robert Cooper Florida St. 

Linebacker – Amari Gainer Florida St. 

Cornerback – Shyheim Battle NC State

Safety – R.J. Mickens Clemson

Kicker – Andres Borregales Miami

Punter – Jacob Finn Virginia

ACC Analyst- Matthew Lewis.