The 2017 All-ACC Preseason Football Team was announced early Wednesday.
And one of the 27 players selected — which are voted on by 167 media members — was former Richmond Senior standout Tyrone Crowder, making him one of five Clemson athletes recognized on the list.
Crowder is an offensive guard for the reigning national champions who was named First-Team All-ACC after starting all 15 games last season. The rising senior finished with 25 knockdowns in 869 snaps last year — three of his knockdowns coming in the National Championship victory over Alabama.
He was joined by teammate, and another offensive linemen, Mitch Hyatt (offensive tackle) on the ACC’s preseason squad. Hyatt was second on the team this past season with 32.5 knockdowns, which helped him get voted First-Team All-ACC by the media and Second-Team All-ACC by the coaches.
Also making the conference’s preseason team from Clemson were Deon Cain (wide receiver), Dexter Lawrence (defensive tackle) and Christian Wilkins (defensive tackle). The Tigers had the most selections out of all schools in the conference.
Last season, Cain caught 36 passes for nine touchdowns, Lawrence was named 2016 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Wilkins earned numerous All-American honors following a 56-tackle, 3.5-sack season as a sophomore.
Next with the most selections was Miami, who placed four on the preseason team, while both Florida State, Virginia Tech and N.C. State each saw three players make the cut.
Louisville’s Lamar Jackson — last year’s Heisman Trophy winner — was one of two Cardinals to be selected. Pittsburgh and Virginia also had two athletes recognized, while Boston College, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest each had one make the team.
Below is the full list of the 2017 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Football Team:
Offense
QB – Lamar Jackson, Louisville (Jr.)
RB – Mark Walton, Miami (Jr.)
RB – Dedrick Mills, Georgia Tech (So.)
WR – Deon Cain, Clemson (Jr.)
WR – Ahmmon Richards, Miami (So.)
WR – Cam Phillips, Virginia Tech (Sr.)
TE – Cam Serigne, Wake Forest (R-Sr.)
AP – Jaylen Samuels, NC State (Sr.)
OT – Mitch Hyatt, Clemson (Jr.)
OT – Brian O’Neill, Pittsburgh (R-Jr.)
C – Alec Eberle, Florida State (R-Jr.)
OG – Tyrone Crowder, Clemson (R-Sr.)
OG – Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech (R-Sr.)
Defense
DE – Harold Landry, Boston College (Sr.)
DE – Bradley Chubb, NC State (Sr.)
DT – Dexter Lawrence, Clemson (So.)
DT – Christian Wilkins, Clemson (Jr.)
LB – Micah Kiser, Virginia (R-Sr.)
LB – Shaquille Quarterman, Miami (So.)
LB – Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech (Jr.)
CB – Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State (Jr.)
CB – Jaire Alexander, Louisville (Jr.)
S – Derwin James, Florida State (R-So.)
S – Quin Blanding, Virginia (Sr.)
Special Teams
PK – Michael Badgley, Miami (Jr.)
P – A.J. Cole III, NC State (Jr.)
SP – Quadree Henderson, Pittsburgh (Jr.)
Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.