Six Clemson Offensive Players Named First-Team All-ACC

by TigerNet Staff - Mon Nov 26 15:37:02 GMT-04:00 2012

Clemson, SC—Clemson had six of the 11 All-ACC players on offense according to the All-ACC team released by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association on Monday. It is the first of two All-ACC teams released, as the league coaches will announce an all-conference team next week.

The six Clemson players who made first-team were quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Jr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile , center Dalton FreemanDalton Freeman
Gr. Center
#55 6-5, 265
Pelion, SC
View Full Profile , wide receiver DeAndre HopkinsDeAndre Hopkins
Jr. Wide Receiver
#6 6-2, 205
Central, SC
View Full Profile , running back Andre EllingtonAndre Ellington
RS Sr. Running Back
#23 5-10, 195
Moncks Corner, SC
View Full Profile , tight end Brandon FordBrandon Ford
Gr. Tight End
#80 6-4, 240
Wando, SC
View Full Profile and offensive tackle Brandon ThomasBrandon Thomas
RS Jr. Offensive Line
#63 6-3, 305
Spartanburg, SC
View Full Profile .

This is the first time in history Clemson has had six all-conference players on the first-team offense, and the first time any team has done it since Florida State accomplished the feat in 1995.

Kicker Chandler CatanzaroChandler Catanzaro
RS Jr. Punter / Kicker
#39 6-2, 195
Greenville, SC
View Full Profile and safety Rashard HallRashard Hall
Gr. Safety
#31 6-2, 210
St. Augustine, FL
View Full Profile were named to the second team, while Malliciah GoodmanMalliciah Goodman
Sr. Defensive End
#97 6-4, 270
Florence, SC
View Full Profile and Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
So. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile were named honorable mention.

Boyd and Freeman were named first team for the second consecutive year, while Catanzaro made second team for the second year in a row. Ellington was second team last year and improved to first-team this year.

With Freeman’s selection, he became the first Clemson center in history to be named first-team All-ACC in consecutive years. Boyd is the first two-time first-team selection at quarterback from Clemson since Steve Fuller in 1977-78.

Boyd leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 168.5 figure, on pace for a Clemson record. The junior has completed 251 passes in 377 attempts for 3550 yards and 34 touchdowns. He has also run for nine touchdowns. His 43 touchdowns in terms of touchdown responsibility are tied for first in the nation.

Boyd also leads the ACC and ranks eighth in the nation in total offense per game with 336.8 yards per contest. The native of Virginia has quarterbacked Clemson to 20 wins in the last two years and is the first Tiger starting quarterback to lead the Tigers to consecutive 10-win seasons since Rodney Williams in 1987-88.

Freeman has established a Clemson record for career plays with 3267. He has started each of the last 48 Clemson games and has played in 52 games played in his career. The first four-year starter at center for the Clemson program since the 1940s, Freeman is the only senior starter on Clemson’s offensive line. This is the first time Clemson has won at least 10 games with just one senior starting on the offensive line since 1989.

Hopkins and Ellington have both gone over the 1000-yard mark in their respective categories this year. Hopkins has 1214 receiving yards this year, first in the ACC and just five short of Sammy Watkins single season mark of 1219 set last year. Hopkins has 16 touchdown receptions to rank second in the nation. It is also a Clemson single season mark.

The native of Central, SC has set an ACC record this year for different games catching a touchdown pass with 11. He has also tied the league mark for consecutive games catching a scoring pass with nine in a row, a record he could break in Clemson’s bowl game.

Ellington has 1031 rushing yards this season, second best in the ACC. It is his second career 1000-yard season as he had 1,178 last year. He is just the fourth player in Clemson history with two 1000-yard rushing seasons. He also has scored eight rushing touchdowns and has a 5.1 average per carry.

Ford ranks second in the nation in touchdown receptions by a tight end with eight. He has 31 receptions for 411 yards for the year. His eight touchdown receptions have tied Dwayne AllenDwayne Allen
Tight End
#83 6-3, 255
Fayetteville, NC
View Full Profile ’s record for a season, a mark set last year. Ford’s listing on the team gives Clemson the first-team All-ACC tight end three of the last four years by three different players. Michael PalmerMichael Palmer
Tight End
# 6-4, 228
Lilburn, GA
View Full Profile was the first-team in 2009 and Allen was named in 2011 when he also won the John Mackey Award.

Brandon Thomas was the sixth Clemson player named first-team All-ACC. Clemson’s starting left tackle in every game, he was a big reason the Tigers rank in the top 15 in the nation in total offense, points scored and passing yards. He was named ACC player of the week for his performance against Duke.

Catanzaro made 16-17 field goals this year and has scored 99 points, most on Clemson’s highest scoring team in history. He is also 54-55 on extra points, so the junior from Greenville, SC has missed just two attempts all season. He had four field goals in the season opening win over Auburn.

Hall has four interceptions to lead the Clemson team and is third in school history in takeaways with 17.

Watkins missed three games this year, but still has 57 receptions for 708 yards and three scores. He ranks third in the ACC in receptions per game, fifth in yardage. Goodman leads the ACC in fumbles caused with four and has four sacks to rank second on the team.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB-Tajh Boyd, Clemson (86)

RB-Giovani Bernard, North Carolina (91)

RB-Andre Ellington, Clemson (77)

WR-DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson (80)

WR-Alex Amidon, Boston College (53)

OT-Oday Aboushi, Virginia (53)

OT-Brandon Thomas, Clemson (51)

OG-Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina (79)

OG-Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech (64)

C-Dalton Freeman, Clemson (78)

TE-Brandon Ford, Clemson (54)

K-Dustin Hopkins, Florida State (79)

Spec.- Giovani Bernard, North Carolina (48)

Defense

DE-Bjoern Werner, Florida State (89)

DE-Cornellius Carradine, Florida State (77)

DT-Joe Vellano, Maryland (80)

DT-Sylvester Williams, North Carolina (63)

LB-Nick Clancy, Boston College (66)

LB-Kevin Reddick, North Carolina (65)

LB-Steve Greer, Virginia (58)

CB-Xavier Rhodes, Florida State (66)

CB-Ross Cockrell, Duke (50)

S-Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State (59)

S-Earl Wolff, NC State (46)

P-Will Monday, Duke (73)

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB-EJ Manuel, Florida State (25)

RB-Duke Johnson, Miami (47)

RB-Chris Thompson, Florida State (31)

WR-Conner Vernon, Duke (51)

WR-Michael Campanaro, Wake Forest (32)

OT-James Hurst, North Carolina (50)

TIE OT-Cameron Erving, Florida State (21)

TIE OT-Emmett Cleary, Boston College (21)

OG-Tre' Jackson, Florida State (26)

OG-R.J. Matttes, NC State (24)

C- Bryan Stork, Florida State (19)

TE-Eric Ebron, North Carolina (51)

TIE K-Chandler Catanzaro, Clemson (22)

TIE K-Casey Barth, North Carolina (22)

Spec.-Duke Johnson, Miami (44)

Defense

DE-James Gayle, Virginia Tech (30)

DE-Kareem Martin, North Carolina (22)

DT-Everett Dawkins, Florida State (34)

DT-Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest (24)

LB-Demetrius Hartsfield, Maryland (34)

LB-Christian Jones, Florida State (31)

LB-Jack Tyler Virginia Tech (28)

CB-David Amerson, NC State (46)

CB-Antone Exum, Virginia Tech (44)

S-Rashard Hall, Clemson (43)

S- Walt Canty, Duke (31)

P-Tommy Hibbard, North Carolina (40)

Honorable Mention [Name, School, Position, Points]: Kenny Anunike (D), de (13); Jeremiah Attaochu (GT), lb (26); Brandan Bishop (NCS), safety (20); Travis Bond (NC), og (14); Tre Boston (NC), safety (29); Darryl Cato-Bishop (NCS), de (12); Emmett Cleary (BC), ot (21); Jamison Crowder (D), wr (15); Stefon Diggs (MD), spec. (33); Jay Finch (GT), c (16); Jon Feliciano (MI), og (16); A.J. Francis (MD), de (12); Kyle Fuller (VT), cb (16); Mike Glennon (NCS), qb (10); Malliciah Goodman (CL), de (16); Dave Harding (D), og (14); Seantrel Henderson (MI), ot (13); Antoine Hopkins (VT), dt (10); Derrick Hopkins (VT), dt (15); Will Jackson (GT), ot (14); Timmy Jernigan (FS), dt (15); Alexander Kinal (WF), p (12); Gerald Levano (BC), p (13); Brandon Linder (MI), og (21); Ross Martin (D), pk (11); Anthony McCloud (FS), dt (10); Jake McGee (VA), te (12); Demetrious Nicholson (VA), cb (12); Denzel Perryman (MI), lb (12); Kevin Pierre-Louis (BC), lb (14); Bryn Renner (NC), qb (15); LaRoy Reynolds (VA), lb (10); Tim Scott (NC), cb (10); Perry Simmons (D), ot (11); Orwin Smith (GT), rb (13); Kenny Tate (MD), lb (12); Bruce Taylor (VT), lb (19); Sammy Watkins (CL), wr (19); Menelik Watson (FS), ot (13); Camden Wentz (NCS), c (12); Brennan Williams (NC), ot (13); Vince Williams (FS), lb (11)