ACC announces football pre-season predictions

GREENSBORO — From the ACC’s Football Kick-off weekend at Grandover Resort in Greensboro, the assembled media voted Sunday on the pre-season rankings and Player of the Year.

Florida State was pegged as the favorite as 60 of the 95 voters gave the Seminoles the nod. The Tar Heels were picked to finish third in the Coastal Division behind Virginia Tech in the top spot and Georgia Tech in second.

UNC received two first place votes in the division race.

Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins won the pre-season Player of the Year honor by edging out Virginia Tech’s quarter back Logan Thomas.

UNC running back Giovani Bernard and quarterback Bryn Renner each received one vote for the Player of the Year award.

The tallies are listed below.

ACC CHAMPIONSHIP VOTES

1. Florida State (60)
2. Virginia Tech (18)
3. Clemson (13)
4. Georgia Tech (3)
5. N.C. State (1)

ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. Florida State (72) 543
2. Clemson (17) 470
3. N.C. State (5) 402
4. Wake Forest 241
5. Boston College 181
6. Maryland 148

COASTAL DIVISION

1. Virginia Tech (83) 558
2. Georgia Tech (10) 421
3. North Carolina (2) 341
4. Virginia 326
5. Miami 245
6. Duke 104

ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1. Sammy Watkins, Clemson 25
2. Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech 21
3. E.J. Manuel, Florida State 19
4. Tahj Boyd, Clemson 18
5. Mike Glennon, N.C. State 5
6. David Amerson, N.C. State 3
7. Giovani Bernard, North Carolina 1
7. Bryn Renner, North Carolina 1
7. Tanner Price, Wake Forest 1
7. Kyle FUller, Virginia Tech 1

First place votes are in parentheses, point totals are calculated by rankings from each ballot.