Photo Credit: Harley Taylor
The ACC announced the media's projected ACC standings and their Preseason All-ACC team with Virginia Tech ranking among the upper-third in the conference and one Hokie earning an illustrious preseason honor.
Preseason All-ACC 💪🏿
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) September 4, 2020
Of course, the conference’s most prolific tackler made the list! #Rook | #HardHatMentality 👷🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/JsqMAbLPtP
Nationally top-ranked @ClemsonFB is predicted to finish first in the ACC 🐅
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 4, 2020
Complete Poll and Preseason Team: https://t.co/MFubpBHEpV pic.twitter.com/F8htPwlco4
Virginia Tech was picked to finish 5th in the ACC and second among Coastal teams though as we know, there are no divisions this season but rather the top 2 teams will reach Charlotte.
Additionally, LB Rayshard Ashby unsurprisingly earned Preseason All-ACC honors this season. Jermaine Waller, Christian Darrisaw, and Oscar Bradburn were among the top Hokie contenders for Preseason All-ACC spots to just miss the cut.
Ashby earned this honor after an impressive 2019 season where he had 120 tackles, 17 tackles for loss including 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 QB hurries, and 1 pass breakup on his way to earning All-ACC Second Team honors. This honor comes after Ashby earned Preseason Third Team All-American honors from Athlon Sports earlier this summer.
There's no doubt that the Hokies being picked fifth behind teams like North Carolina will likely be motivation to prove that the Hokies were underrated, especially after Tech beat UNC last season and finished with a better record than the Tar Heels.
Meanwhile, Rayshard Ashby gets the recognition he deserves as not only arguably being the best linebacker in the conference but also one of the best linebackers in America.
Here's a full rundown of the conference projections from the ACC including vote tallies.
ACC Projected Standings
1. Clemson (132) – 2008 (also picked to win ACC Football Championship Game)
2. Notre Dame (2) – 1824
3. North Carolina – 1682
4. Louisville – 1434
5. Virginia Tech – 1318
6. Miami – 1280
7. Florida State – 1177
8. Pitt – 1132
9. Virginia – 994
10. Wake Forest – 659
11. NC State – 634
12. Duke – 618
13. Boston College – 532
14. Syracuse – 449
15. Georgia Tech – 339
Preseason All-ACC Team
Offense
WR – Tamorrion Terry, Florida State (100)
WR – Tutu Atwell, Louisville (96)
WR – Dazz Newsome, North Carolina (75)
TE – Brevin Jordan, Miami (77)
AP – Michael Carter, North Carolina (82)
OT – Jackson Carman, Clemson (64)
OT – Ben Petrula, Boston College (61)
OG – Zion Johnson, Boston College (78)
OG – Aaron Banks, Notre Dame (34)
C – Jimmy Morrissey, Pitt (80)
QB – Trevor Lawrence, Clemson (131)
RB – Travis Etienne, Clemson (133)
RB – Javian Hawkins, Louisville (80)
Defense
DE – Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest (89)
DE – Patrick Jones II, Pitt (37)
DT – Marvin Wilson, Florida State (108)
DT – Tyler Davis, Clemson (75)
LB – Chazz Surratt, North Carolina (106)
LB – Rayshard Ashby, Virginia Tech (66)
LB – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame (47)
CB – Asante Samuel Jr., Florida State (90)
CB – Derion Kendrick, Clemson (85)
S – Paris Ford, Pitt (62)
S – Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State (56)
Special Teams
PK – Nick Sciba, Wake Forest (69)
P – Trenton Gill, NC State (43)
SP – Damond Philyaw-Johnson, Duke (48)