BC-FBC–All-ACC, 1st Ld-Writethru,347
Clemson, UNC, FSU dominate all-ACC 1st team
AP Photo SCRS104, VASH110%reldate(2012-11-26T20:12:19GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) Clemson, Florida State and North Carolina dominate the all-Atlantic Coast Conference first team.
The league announced its all-conference team Monday and six offensive players from the 15th-ranked Tigers made the first team. The 13th-ranked Seminoles and Tar Heels had five players apiece.
The teams were determined by a vote of 46 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
Quarterback Tajh Boyd, running back Andre Ellington and receiver DeAndre Hopkins were Clemson’s skill players on the first team. They were joined by tackle Brandon Thomas, center Dalton Freeman and tight end Brandon Ford.
Boyd led the ACC with 34 touchdown passes while Hopkins had league-bests of 16 total TD catches and an average of 104 yards receiving for the conference’s best offense.
Nine teams had at least one first-team selection.
There were no unanimous picks to the first team, but North Carolina running back Gio Bernard was chosen as a first-teamer on 45 ballots.
Bernard, who had an ACC-leading 1,228 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground, joins Boyd as repeat first-team selections.
Bernard, a punt returner who also was picked as the first-team specialist, was joined by guard Jonathan Cooper the Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner as the league’s top offensive lineman plus linebacker Kevin Reddick and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams.
Four Florida State defensive players ends Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and safety Lamarcus Joyner join kicker Dustin Hopkins on the first team.
The Atlantic Division-champion Seminoles led the league in all four major defensive stat categories, and Hopkins became the all-time NCAA career scoring leader among kickers this season and led the league with 58 extra points and 24 field goals.
Offensive guard Omoregie Uzzi was the only player from Georgia Tech on the first team. The Yellow Jackets will play Florida State on Saturday night in the ACC championship game.
Boston College (receiver Alex Amidon and linebacker Nick Clancy), Virginia (offensive tackle Oday Aboushi and linebacker Steve Greer) and Duke (cornerback Ross Cockrell and punter Will Monday) were the only other schools with multiple first-team picks.