UNC's Maye tabbed as ACC preseason player of the year

By Brian Murphy, WRAL

North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye became the first Tar Heel to be named ACC Player of the Year since Lawrence Taylor.

Now Maye is favored to do it again, topping a vote of 176 ACC media members.

He received 88 votes with Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis getting 66 and Clemson running back Will Shipley earning 17 votes. Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (three), Duke quarterback Riley Leonard (one) and Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis (one) also received votes.

Maye was also the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2022 after throwing for 3,847 yards and 35 touchdowns. He added 629 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

"All those personal accolades come with winning football games and having North Carolina be up there in the conversation of the ACC Championship and bigger things," Maye said at last week's ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte. "Starts with football, winning games."

Clemson, picked to win the ACC, had seven players on the 27-member All-ACC Preseason Football Team released Wednesday. Florida State had four, while North Carolina, Duke and Miami had three each.

North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray, a first-team All-ACC selection last season, and wide receiver Tez Walker, a transfer from Kent State, also made the team. Wide receiver Jalon Calhoun, offensive tackle Graham Barton and defensive tackle DeWayne Carter represented Duke on the team.

NC State had just one selection: cornerback Aydan White, who played 482 coverage snaps last season without allowing a touchdown and ranked second in the ACC with four interceptions.

"I expect our defense to be No. 1 in passing defense throughout the whole league," White said at last week's ACC Kickoff.

2023 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

Offense:

QB: Drake Maye, North Carolina (107)

RB: Will Shipley, Clemson (169)

RB: Trey Benson, Florida State (125)

WR: Johnny Wilson, Florida State (117)

WR: Tez Walker, North Carolina (51)

WR: Jalon Calhoun, Duke (49)

TE: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse (89)

AP: Will Shipley, Clemson (105)

OT: Graham Barton, Duke (110)

OT: Matt Goncalves, Pitt (58)

OG: Christian Mahogany, Boston College (101)

OG: Javion Cohen, Miami (69)

C: Bryan Hudson, Louisville (56)

Defense:

DE: Jared Verse, Florida State (136)

DE: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College (58)

DT: Tyler Davis, Clemson (124)

DT: DeWayne Carter, Duke (97)

LB: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson (132)

LB: Cedric Gray, North Carolina (109)

LB: Barrett Carter, Clemson (87)

CB: Fentrell Cypress II, Florida State (88)

CB: Aydan White, NC State (85)

S: Kam Kinchens, Miami (117)

S: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson (46)

Special teams:

PK: Andres Borregales, Miami (70)

P: Daniel Sparks, Virginia (54)

SP: Will Shipley, Clemson (68)

Preseason Player of the Year

1. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina (88)

2. Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State (66)

3. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson (17)

4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson (3)

T5. Riley Leonard, QB, Duke (1)

T5. Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson (1)