Clemson picked to win ACC ahead of Florida State

PINEHURST, N.C. – Clemson is the favorite to win the Atlantic Coast Conference, in a preseason poll released Tuesday during the 2015 ACC Football Kickoff.

ACC media members picked Clemson ahead of Florida State in the Atlantic Division, while Georgia Tech is the favorite to win the Coastal Division.

Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson was voted the 2015 ACC Preseason Player of the Year.

The Tigers received 101 first-place votes ahead of the Seminoles (56), who have won the last three ACC titles.

“That shows you to me the depth of the conference, that we’ve had three conference championships in a row, but they’re thinking another team is going to win it,” FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. “To me, that’s only great for the ACC because I think they’re such a great brand of football out there.”

FSU junior cornerback Jalen Ramsey received seven votes for player of the year honors, tied for fourth place with Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya.

Watson received 69 votes, followed by Pitt running back James Conner (46) and Georgia Tech quarterback Justin Thomas (13). Conner, the ACC’s leading rusher last season, won the award last season.

Clemson and FSU will meet in Death Valley on Nov. 7. The Seminoles have won four of the five matchups against the Tigers since Fisher became head coach.

“Goals are fun to talk about, but whether you’re picked to win it or second or third, it doesn’t matter,” Fisher said.

Injury update

Fisher said linebacker Matthew Thomas had “total reconstruction” of his shoulder when he had surgery in April. Fisher said Thomas is still in the healing process, and there’s no timetable for to return.

Fellow linebackers Reggie Northrup (knee surgery) and Terrance Smith (foot), however, will be ready for fall camp. Fisher said Northrup, who tore his ACL during the Rose Bowl Game against Oregon, is ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation but will be monitored so he’s not overworked.

Freshman defensive tackle Josh Sweat, who was rated the No. 1 player in the country before tearing his ACL and dislocating his left knee in September, could also practice with the team this fall.

“He’s got to get some conditioning back, and it’s starting to happen,” Fisher said, “but they said he got up to 21 miles per hour running.”

Safety Tyler Hunter (torn meniscus) and center Ryan Hoefield (knee) will also be ready for fall camp, which begins Aug. 5.

ACC Championship Votes

1. Clemson - 84

2. Florida State - 41

3. Georgia Tech - 20

4. Virginia Tech - 7

5. North Carolina - 3

6. Miami - 2

7. NC State - 1

Atlantic Division

(First place votes in parenthesis)

1. Clemson (101) - 1,032

2. Florida State (56) - 992

3. Louisville (1) - 746

4. NC State - 673

5. Boston College - 473

6. Syracuse - 291

7. Wake Forest - 217

Coastal Division

(First place votes in parenthesis)

1. Georgia Tech (96) - 991

2. Virginia Tech (44) - 841

3. Miami (7) - 632

4. Duke (4) - 615

5. North Carolina (4) - 590

6. Pitt (3) -535

7. Virginia -220

ACC Player of the Year

1. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson - 69

2. James Conner, RB, Pitt - 46

3. Justin Thomas, QB, Georgia Tech - 13

4. Jalen Ramsey, CB Florida State - 7

5. Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami -7

6. Marquise Williams, QB, North Carolina - 6

7. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech - 6

8. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pitt - 3

9. Jacoby Brissett, QB, NC State - 1