NC State's Wilson leads All-ACC first team. But not everyone picked him.

By Brian Murphy, WRAL

NC State linebacker Payton Wilson led all players in voting for first-team All-ACC honors, the league announced Tuesday evening.

Wilson is a finalist for national awards given to the best linebacker and top defensive player in college football. Wilson, in his fifth season, had an ACC-best 138 tackles (69 solo), including six sacks. He also had three interceptions for the Wolfpack.

"He is the best defensive player in college football right now," NC State coach Dave Doeren said earlier in the season.

Wilson received 184 points, shy of the 192 maximum points possible, from the voting panel which included 51 media members and the league's 14 head coaches. Players receive three points for a first-team vote, two points for a second-team vote and one point for a third-team vote. Coaches cannot vote for a member of their own team.

Virginia wide receiver Malik Washington received 182 points after leading the nation in receptions per game (9.2). North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, a first-team pick, had 178 points.

Wilson was NC State's lone first-team selection. Freshman wide receiver Kevin "KC" Concepcion made the second team.

In addition to Hampton, who led the ACC with 1,442 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, UNC tight end Bryson Nesbit and linebacker Cedric Gray made the first team.

Duke guard Graham Barton, defensive tackle DeWayne Carter and punter Porter Wilson made the first team.

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, the preseason player of the year, was the second-team quarterback. He was joined by UNC teammates Kaimon Rucker (defensive end) and Noah Burnette (kicker).

Duke wide receiver Jordan Moore, guard Jacob Monk and linebacker Tre Freeman were second-team selections.

NC State offensive tackle Anthony Belton and cornerback Ayden White were third-team choices. UNC wide receiver Tez Walker, guard Willie Lampkin and linebacker Power Echols made the third team. Duke running back Jordan Waters and defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles were third-team selections. Peebles announced he is entering the transfer portal.

Undefeated Florida State, which plays Louisville for the conference championship on Saturday, had a league-high eight players on the first team. Seventeen Seminoles made one of the three All-ACC teams. Miami was second with nine overall selections.

NC State (9-3), UNC (8-4) and Duke (7-5) are all bowl eligible and should learn their destinations and opponents on Sunday.

2023 All-ACC Football Teams

First-Team All-ACC

Offense

QB – Jordan Travis – Florida State (175)

RB – Omarion Hampton – North Carolina (178)

RB – Jawhar Jordan – Louisville (176)

WR – Malik Washington – Virginia (182)

WR – Keon Coleman – Florida State (165)

WR – Xavier Restrepo – Miami (147)

TE – Bryson Nesbit – North Carolina (117)

AP – Keon Coleman – Florida State (81)

OT – Graham Barton – Duke (126)

OT – Darius Washington – Florida State (104)

OG – Christian Mahogany – Boston College (156)

OG – D’Mitri Emmanuel – Florida State (104)

C – Bryan Hudson – Louisville (94)

Defense

DE – Ashton Gillotte – Louisville (161)

DE – Jared Verse – Florida State (135)

DT – Tyler Davis – Clemson (142)

DT – DeWayne Carter – Duke (117)

LB – Payton Wilson – NC State (184)

LB – Jeremiah Trotter Jr. – Clemson (172)

LB – Kalen DeLoach – Florida State (132) tie

LB – Cedric Gray – North Carolina (132) tie

CB – Nate Wiggins – Clemson (119)

CB – Elijah Jones – Boston College (118)

S – Kamren Kinchens – Miami (138)

S – Jonas Sanker – Virginia (89)

Specialists

PK – Andy Borregales – Miami (111)

P – Porter Wilson – Duke (124)

SP – Keon Coleman – Florida State (120)

Second-Team All-ACC

Offense

QB – Drake Maye – North Carolina (135)

RB – Trey Benson – Florida State (118)

RB – LeQuint Allen – Syracuse (95)

WR – Kevin “KC” Concepcion – NC State (138)

WR – Jamari Thrash – Louisville (128)

WR – Jordan Moore – Duke (68)

TE – Jaheim Bell – Florida State (105)

AP – Bhayshul Tuten – Virginia Tech (80)

OT – Jalen Rivers – Miami (88)

OT – Ozzy Trapilo – Boston College (63)

OG – Jacob Monk – Duke (82)

OG – Michael Jurgens – Wake Forest (80)

C – Matt Lee – Miami (81)

Defense

DE – Antwaun Powell-Ryland – Virginia Tech (113)

DE – Kaimon Rucker – North Carolina (97)

DT – Braden Fiske – Florida State (80)

DT – Joshua Farmer – Florida State (76)

LB – Francisco Mauigoa – Miami (88)

LB – Marlow Wax – Syracuse (83)

LB – Tre Freeman – Duke (55) tie

LB – Barrett Carter – Clemson (55) tie

CB – Renardo Green – Florida State (83)

CB – M.J. Devonshire – Pitt (81)

S – Malik Mustapha – Wake Forest (51)

S – Jaylon King – Georgia Tech (50)

Specialists

PK – Noah Burnette – North Carolina (110)

P – Alex Mastromanno – Florida State (121)

SP – Brashard Smith – Miami (96)

Third-Team All-ACC

Offense

QB – Jack Plummer – Louisville (34)

RB – Jamal Haynes – Georgia Tech (51)

RB – Jordan Waters – Duke (44)

WR – Devontez Walker – North Carolina (67)

WR – Jacolby George – Miami (57)

WR – Johnny Wilson – Florida State (48)

TE – Jake Briningstool – Clemson (94)

AP – Jawhar Jordan – Louisville (70)

OT – Blake Miller – Clemson (55)

OT – Anthony Belton – NC State (43)

OG – Michael Gonzalez – Louisville (66)

OG – Willie Lampkin – North Carolina (48)

C – Will Putnam – Clemson (72)

Defense

DE – Rueben Bain, Jr. – Miami (65)

DE – Jasheen Davis – Wake Forest (61)

DT – Aeneas Peebles – Duke (64)

DT – Ruke Orhorhoro – Clemson (63)

LB – Vinny DePalma – Boston College (41)

LB – Tatum Bethune – Florida State (30)

LB – Power Echols – North Carolina (28)

CB – Aydan White – NC State (80)

CB – Dorain Strong – Virginia Tech (53)

S – Shyheim Brown – Florida State (49)

S – Devin Neal – Louisville (45)

Specialists

PK – Ryan Fitzgerald – Florida State (81)

P – Jack Stonehouse – Syracuse (79)

SP – Tucker Holloway – Virginia Tech (73)

Honorable -Mention All-ACC

QB – Haynes King – Georgia Tech (31)

RB – Will Shipley – Clemson (42)

RB – Phil Mafah – Clemson (37)

RB – Bhayshul Tuten – Virginia Tech (15)

WR – Eric Singleton, Jr. – Georgia Tech (41)

WR – Malachi Fields – Virginia (36)

WR – Bub Means – Pitt (19)

TE – Gavin Bartholomew – Pitt (25)

TE – Dae’Quan Wright – Virginia Tech (16)

AP – Will Shipley – Clemson (63)

AP – LeQuint Allen – Syracuse (37)

AP – Brashard Smith – Miami (24)

AP – Jamal Haynes – Georgia Tech (18)

OT – Willie Tyler – Louisville (41)

OT – Francis Mauigoa – Miami (41)

OT – Eric Miller – Louisville (35)

OT – Spencer Rolland – North Carolina (32)

OT – DeVonte Gordon – Wake Forest (26)

OT – Jordan Williams – Georgia Tech (20)

OT – Logan Taylor – Boston College (15)

OG – Joe Fusile – Georgia Tech (38)

OG – Casey Roddick – Florida State (38)

OG – Anez Cooper – Miami (37)

OG – Timothy McKay – NC State (35)

OG – Javion Cohen – Miami (34)

OG – Kyle Hergel – Boston College (33)

OG – Chris Bleich – Syracuse (17)

C – Brian Stevens – Virginia (45)

C – Maurice Smith – Florida State (24)

C – Dylan McMahon – NC State (20)

C – Corey Gaynor – North Carolina (15)

DE – Davin Vann – NC State (28)

DE – Patrick Payton – Florida State (18)

DE – Xavier Thomas – Clemson (17)

DE – T.J. Parker – Clemson (15)

DT – Norell Pollard – Virginia Tech (45)

DT – Myles Murphy – North Carolina (40)

DT – Dez Tell – Louisville (32)

DT – Aaron Faumui – Virginia (32)

DT – Cam Horsley – Boston College (25)

DT – Kevin Pointer – Wake Forest (20)

DT – Zeek Biggers – Georgia Tech (17)

LB – DJ Lundy – Florida State (24)

LB – Jaylon Scott – NC State (17)

LB – T.J. Quinn – Louisville (16)

LB – Keli Lawson – Virginia Tech (16)

CB – Quincy Riley – Louisville (40)

CB – Al Blades Jr. – Duke (40)

CB – Jarrian Jones – Florida State (37)

CB – Fentrell Cypress – Florida State (17)

CB – Jarvis Brownlee – Louisville (15)

CB – Shyheim Battle – NC State (15)

S – Khalil Barnes – Clemson (44)

S – Cam’Ron Kelly – Louisville (37)

S – Andrew Mukuba – Clemson (36)

S – Devan Boykin – NC State (36)

S – Donovan McMillon – Pitt – (34)

S – Brandon Johnson – Duke (29)

S – Justin Barron – Syracuse (29)

S – R.J. Mickens – Clemson (19)

S – Alijah Huzzie – North Carolina (18)

S – Akeem Dent – Florida State (18)

PK – John Love – Virginia Tech (60)

P – Dylan Joyce – Miami (19)

SP – Joe Shimko – NC State (26)

SP – Demond Claiborne – Wake Forest (22)

SP – Alijah Huzzie – North Carolina (19)

SP – Kenny Johnson – Pitt (18)