Miami Hurricanes get snubbed by All-ACC football team

The Miami Hurricanes had the ACC’s second-ranked ranked scoring defense and were number one in several categories including first in total defense and against the run. Despite that only one UM player was named to the first-team All-ACC defense

Miami Hurricanes middle linebacker Shaq Quarterman was the only Canes player named to the ACC’sfirst-team defense. The biggest snub from the list was defensive tackle Gerald Willis who inexplicably was named to the ACC’s second-team defense.

Clemson’s star defensive tackle duo Christian Wilkins with 160 points and Dexter Lawrence with 137 were the ACC’s first-team defensive tackles. Wilkins had the second most points in the voting on the defense to his teammate defensive end Clelin Farrell who had 163.

Neither Wilkins or Lawrence had anywhere close to the season statistically that Willis did. Willis finished the 2018 regular season with 59 tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He led the ACC in TFLs and finished tied for 21st in sacks.

Wilkins finished 2018 with 43 tackles, 12.0 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss. Lawrence had 31 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and a 0.5 sack…a half sack!!! Neither Wilkins nor Lawrence should have finished ahead of Willis. Lawrence was inexplicable. Willis had nearly twice as many tackles, four times the TFLs and eight times the sacks.

The questionable places for the Miami Hurricanes defenders beyond Quarterman on the All-ACC team or omitted entirely did not end with Willis getting snubbed from the first team. Defensive end Jonathan Garvin was somehow not named All-ACC at all. He didn’t even receive honorable mention.

Garvin being left off the list completely is inexcusable. The Sophomore defensive end finished 2018 with 54 tackles,16.0 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two fumbles recoveries and a fumble return for a touchdown.

Garvin tied for third in the ACC in TFLs and tied for 14th in sacks. He was nearly the disruptive force on the end that Willis was in the middle.

The local and national media and Miami Hurricanes fanbase were equally perplexed why so many Miami Hurricanes players were clearly snubbed from on the 2018 All-ACC football team.

The breakdown gives the coaches 23.3 percent of the votes. Maybe in the future, they should go to an electoral college. The voting counts in Florida once again were controversial. ESPN’s Andrea Adelson discussed how she voted. Willis’ production was clearly important to her.

Jaquan Johnson was first-team preseason All-ACC and named to several preseason first-team All-American teams. He missed two and a half games this season but was still had still had an outstanding season.

Johnson led Miami in total tackles and assisted tackles. He finished eighth in the ACC in tackles per game and 13th in total tackles.

Virginia Senior Juan Thornhill and Syracuse Freshman Andre Cisco were the first-team All-ACC safeties. Thornhill had 92 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, five interceptions and six passes defended. Cisco had 51 tackles, one tackle for loss, seven interceptions and nine pass breakups.

Johnson had 79 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one interception, one pass breakup and two forced fumbles. He was second among all the safeties in the ACC to Wake Forest’s Cameron Glenn in tackles per game. Glenn was also named third-team. Johnson has a good chance to be named the Miami Hurricanes team MVP for the second straight season.

The ineptness of the Miami Hurricanes offense all season against FBS teams likely hurt the Hurricanes on the ACC All-defensive team. There is no logical explanation for some of the voting.

Other Miami defensive players to earn All-Conference were cornerbacks Trajan Bandy who was named to the third-team and cornerback Michael Jackson, defensive end Joe Jackson, linebacker Michael Pinckney and safety Sheldrick Redwine who were named Honorable Mention.

Despite the deplorable Miami Hurricanes offense, three players were named All-ACC. Running back Travis Homer and tight end Brevin Jordan were named second-team All-ACC while Tyree St. Louis earned Honorable Mention All-ACC in his first season playing left tackle.