Clemson was picked as the favorite in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2015 media pre-season poll.
“I never really get too caught up in the pre-season prediction-type stuff,” Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney said during the ACC Media Days. “I appreciate people having respect for our program and our players. But, you know, really it truly is about the performance.”
“Hopefully when it’s all said and done in December, whoever voted for us, we can make them look really smart,” Swinney continued. “I do think we’re definitely one of those teams. There’s several teams in this conference that I think have a chance to win the league. I think we’re one of them.”
Clemson (10-3, 6-2) was in the top spot in the Atlantic Division, while Georgia Tech (11-3, 6-2) was chosen to win the Coastal Division.
Sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson of Clemson was selected as the pre-season ACC Player of the Year. He threw for 1,466 yards in eight games last fall with 14 touchdowns with a freshman record six of scores against North Carolina.
All-ACC Second Team choice Artavis Scott had 76 catches as a freshman, while junior receiver Mike Williams had 57 grabs for 1,030 yards with six touchdowns. Sophomore running back Wayne Gallman added 789 yards a year ago.
On defense, the Tigers are led by junior safety Jayron Kearse (60 tackles, two interceptions) and classmate Shaq Lawson (11 tackles for a loss).
Georgia Tech has junior quarterback Justin Thomas back to lead the offense. He threw for 1,719 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for 1,086 and eight more scores.
On the other side of the ball the Yellow Jackets are going to be led by junior linebacker P.J. Davis, who topped the squad with 119 tackles in 2014.
Defending champ Florida State (13-1, 8-0) finished in second in the balloting in the Atlantic followed by Louisville (9-4, 5-3), North Carolina State (8-5, 3-5), Boston College (7-6, 4-4), Syracuse (3-9, 1-7) and Wake Forest (3-9, 1-7).
In the Coastal, Virginia Tech (7-6, 3-5) was second with Miami (6-7, 3-5) in third. The rest of the division in order was Duke (9-4, 5-3), North Carolina (6-7, 4-4), Pittsburgh (6-7, 4-4) and Virginia (5-7, 3-5).
Some Other Players to Watch in the ACC: Boston College: Jon Hilliman, Darius Wade, Conner Wujciak; Duke: Jeremy Cash, Max McCaffrey, DeVon Edwards; Florida State: Sean McGuire, Everett Colson, Jalen Ramsey, Roberto Aguayo, Terrance Smith, Dalvin Cook; Louisville: Will Gardner, Brandon Radcliff, Sheldon Rankins, Keith Kelsey; Miami: Brad Kaaya, Stacy Coley, Raphael Kirby; North Carolina: Marquise Williams, Ryan Switzer, Jeff Schoettmer; North Carolina State: Jacoby Brissett, David Grinnage, Hakim Jones; Pittsburgh: James Connor, Tyler Boyd, Chad Voytik, Lafayette Pitts; Syracuse: Terrel Hunt, Ivan Foy, Rob Trudo, Marquez Hodge; Virginia: Quin Blanding, Matt Johns, Albert Reid, Charlie Hopkins; Virginia Tech: Kendall Fuller, Michael Brewer, Isaiah Ford; Wake Forest: Cam Serigne, John Wolford, Dylan Intemann.
Editor’s note: Quotes, photos and logos courtesy of CollegePressBox.com.