Miami quarterback Cam Ward has been recognized as both the Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2024 season. Meanwhile, Boston College’s defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku received the accolade of the league’s top defensive player.
Rhett Lashlee, the head coach at SMU, was awarded Coach of the Year after his team narrowly missed an ACC title in their first season, falling to Clemson with a score of 34-31. The Hurricanes concluded their season with a 10-2 record but saw their hopes for an ACC championship slip away after losing their last two conference games.
Miami led the conference with eight players being selected for the first and second teams. Among these standout players was receiver Xavier Restrepo, who topped the ACC with 1,127 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Brothers Francis and Francisco Mauigoa from Miami also received second-team honors, with Francis being recognized for his contributions on the offensive line and Francisco being acknowledged as a linebacker.
BC’s Ezeiruaku, alongside Miami’s Restrepo, North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II, and Cal cornerback Nohl Williams, were all chosen as unanimous first-team selections. SMU, boasting an impressive 8-0 record in their regular-season ACC games, placed six players on the list, including first-team running back Brashard Smith. While Clemson will represent the league with an automatic berth in the College Football Playoff, SMU also qualified for the expanded playoff format.
North Carolina’s Hampton, who led the conference in rushing yards with a remarkable total of 1,660, was also named the second-team all-purpose player. Clemson celebrated its eighth ACC title in the last decade, with four of its players attaining selections, including first-team linebacker Barrett Carter and offensive tackle Blake Miller.
The selection for the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team was made by a group of 15 sports journalists familiar with the league. Players were listed alphabetically by position along with their name, school, height, weight, class, and hometown. A “u-” prefix indicates that the player was a unanimous selection.
**First Team**
***Offense***
QB — Cam Ward, Miami, 6-2, 223, R-Sr., West Columbia, Texas
u_RB — Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 6-0, 220, Jr., Clayton, North Carolina
RB — Brashard Smith, SMU, 5-10, 196, Sr., Richmond Heights, Florida
u_WR — Xavier Restrepo, Miami, 5-10, 198, R-Sr., Coconut Creek, Florida
WR — Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville, 6-3, 195, R-Sr., Bradenton, Florida
u-TE — Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse, 6-5, 236, R-Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida
OT — Blake Miller, Clemson, 6-6, 315, Jr., Strongsville, Ohio
OT — Brian Parker II, Duke, 6-5, 300, R-Soph., Cincinnati
OG — Willie Lampkin, North Carolina, 5-11, 290, Sr., Lakeland, Florida
OG — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 310, Jr., Royston, Georgia
C — Drew Kendall, Boston College, 6-4, 299, R-Jr., Norwell, Massachusetts
PK — Andres Borregales, Miami, 5-11, 170, Jr., Miami
All-purpose — Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh, 5-8, 175, Jr., Miami Gardens, Florida
***Defense***
u-DE — Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College, 6-2, 247, Sr., Williamstown, New Jersey
DE — Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr., Virginia Tech, 6-3, 252, R-Sr., Portsmouth, Virginia
DT — Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech, 6-1, 290, Gr., Raleigh, North Carolina
DT — Simeon Barrow Jr., Miami, 6-3, 290, R-Sr., Grovetown, Georgia
LB — Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 225, R-Soph., East Orange, New Jersey
LB — Teddye Buchanan, Cal, 6-2, 235, R-Sr., San Francisco
LB — Barrett Carter, Clemson, 6-1, 230, Sr., Suwanee, Georgia
u-CB — Nohl Williams, Cal, 6-1, 200, R-Sr., Oxnard, California
CB — Chandler Rivers, Duke, 5-10, 180, Jr., Beaumont, Texas
S — Jonas Sanker, Virginia, 6-1, 210, Sr., Charlottesville, Virginia
S — Mishael Powell, Miami, 6-1, 210, R-Sr., Seattle
P — Alex Mastromanno, Florida State, 6-1, 241, R-Sr., Melbourne, Australia
**Second Team**
***Offense***
QB — Kyle McCord, Syracuse, 6-3, 220, Sr., Mount Laurel, New Jersey
RB — Brayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech, 5-11, 209, Sr., Paulsboro, New Jersey
RB — Isaac Brown, Louisville, 5-9, 190, Fr., Homestead, Florida
WR — Antonio Williams, Clemson, 5-11, 190, R-Soph., Irmo, South Carolina
WR — Jackson Meeks, Syracuse, 6-2, 210, Sr., Phenix City, Alabama
TE — Elijah Arroyo, Miami, 6-4, 245, R-Jr., Frisco, Texas
OT — Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College, 6-8, 309, Gr., Norwell, Massachusetts
OT — Francis Mauigoa, Miami, 6-6, 315, Soph., Ili’ili, American Samoa
OG — Caleb Krings, Duke, 6-3, 317, Gr., Fayetteville, North Carolina
OG — Logan Parr, SMU, 6-4, 316, Sr., Helotes, Texas
C — (tie), Zeke Correll, N.C. State, 6-3, 310, Gr., Cincinnati; Jakai Clark, SMU, 6-3, 334, Gr., Loganville, Georgia
PK — Collin Rogers, SMU, 6-4, 219, Jr., Prattville, Alabama
All-purpose — Omarion Hampton, North Carolina, 6-0, 220, Jr., Clayton, North Carolina
***Defense***
DE — Davin Vann, N.C. State, 6-2, 280, Gr., Cary, North Carolina
DE — T.J. Parker, Clemson, 6-3, 265, Soph., Phenix City, Alabama
DT — Jared Harrison-Hunte, SMU, 6-4, 294, Sr., Middle Village, New York
DT — Kendy Charles, Duke, 6-0, 280, Gr., Orange Park, Florida
LB — Kobe Wilson, SMU, 6-0, 225, Sr., Snellville, Georgia
LB — Branson Combs, Wake Forest, 6-3, 228, Sr., Evansville, Indiana
LB — (tie), Francisco Mauigoa, Miami, 6-3, 230, Sr., Ili’ili, American Samoa; Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh
CB — Quincy Riley, Louisville, 6-0, 195, Sr., Columbia, South Carolina
CB — Avieon Terrell, Clemson, 5-11, 180, Soph., Atlanta
S — Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU, 6-1, 202, Jr., Dallas
S — Terry Moore, Duke, 6-1, 200, Jr., Washington, North Carolina
P — (tie) Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse, 6-1, 197, Jr., Camarillo, California; Lachlan Wilson, Cal, R-Sr., Eaglemont, Australia
***Individual Honors***
– Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashlee, SMU
– Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Ward, Miami
– Defensive Player of the Year: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
– Newcomer of the Year: Cam Ward, Miami
This voting was conducted by a knowledgeable panel of sports writers who regularly follow the ACC, ensuring a well-rounded selection process for recognizing outstanding performances and contributions throughout the season.