Three Hokies Make Preseason All-ACC First Team

The Preseason All-ACC team has been announced, and three Hokies have been tabbed as All-ACC first team. Defensive end James Gayle, linebacker Bruce Taylor and cornerback Kyle Fuller represented the Hokies on the defensive side, while no Hokie was picked to the offensive team. All three players were named to the preseason watch list for the Nagurski Trophy, while Taylor and Fuller were named to the Bednarik Trophy watch list and Fuller was also named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.

Despite Logan Thomas being picked second in the Preseason ACC Player of the Year vote, he was surprisingly absent in the first team All-ACC voting. Thomas was a distant second in the the voting behind Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd by a margin of 13 votes. The only other Hokie to garner votes on offense was center Andrew Miller, finishing second to overwhelming favorite, Clemson center Dalton Freeman, by a whopping 52 votes.

The Florida State Seminoles, who were picked to win the Atlantic Division and the annual Dr. Pepper ACC Championship, and their projected runners up in the Atlantic, Clemson both were represented by four players on the team. North Carolina also surprised with four first-teamers. North Carolina State, Virginia and Maryland had multiple selections, while Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami and Wake Forest each had one representative. Boston College was not represented on the first team. Here is the link to the Hokiesports press release.

For more discussion on the Preseason All-ACC team and recap from the ACC Kickoff, stay tuned to Gobbler Country.