Offensive tackle Zion Nelson, Punter Lou Hedley and tight end Will Mallory were named to the preseason All-ACC team as voted on by the media. The ACC released the preseason all-conference team that was voted on last week in Charlotte at ACC Kickoff. Hedley led the Miami Hurricanes on the All-ACC team with 101 votes.
Nelson received 82 votes and Mallory 69. Boston College, Clemson, Miami and North Carolina State were the only four programs to have three players named to the preseason All-ACC team. No Miami players earned first-team All-ACC in 2021. Hedley was named second-team all-ACC in 2021 for the second straight season.
Among returning players for the Miami Hurricanes, offensive lineman D.J. Scaife earned second-team all-ACC in 2021. North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs received a conference-high 128 votes. North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary with 40 votes was named the preseason ACC Player of the Year.
Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman was second with 30 votes and Miami signal caller Tyler Van Dyke was third with 21 votes. Hedley, Mallory, Nelson and Van Dyke have all been named to multiple preseason watch lists. Quarterback could be the hardest position to earn All-ACC during the 2022 season.
All-ACC Preseason Football Team number of members by school:@ClemsonFB: 6@PackFootball: 5@BCFootball: 3@CanesFootball: 3@LouisvilleFB: 2@UNCFootball: 2@Pitt_FB: 2@FSUFootball: 1@CuseFootball: 1@UVAFootball: 1@WakeFB: 1
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) July 27, 2022
In addition to Leary, Hartman and Van Dyke, Louisville QB Malik Cunningham and Brennan Armstrong of Virginia also received votes for preseason Player of the Year. Only eight players from the Coastal Division were named preseason All-ACC. Clemson leads all schools with six players on the preseason All-ACC team.
Miami plays at Clemson on November 19. Florida State Jammie Robinson was the only Seminole named. Miami will have one of the most experienced teams in the ACC. Hedley and Nelson are multi-year starters. Mallory and Van Dyke are entering their season seasons as Miami Hurricanes starters.
Van Dyke enters the 2022 season after earning the 2021 ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a five-time ACC Rookie of the Week. Several 2023 NFL Mock Drafts project Nelson and Van Dyke as first-round picks. Mallory will hope to build on career numbers in 2021.