The ACC had a banner year in 2016, as Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson claimed the Heisman Trophy, and Clemson hoisted the national championship trophy after beating Alabama in Tampa. The league is poised for another standout season this fall, as Florida State ranks as a projected playoff team by Athlon Sports, with Clemson, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Miami all ranking inside of the top 25. The Seminoles, Tigers and Hokies also return a good chunk of the league’s top talent, as all three programs earn 12 selections on the Athlon Sports 2017 All-ACC team. Pitt (10), Miami (nine) and Duke (nine) round out the next tier.

Athlon Sports has released its top 25 for 2017. Now, it’s time to take a look at the best of the best and honor the top players in the league with a release of first, second, third and fourth all-conference teams for 2017.

An important note on the all-conference teams: These are based on how players will perform in 2017. Career statistics and awards matter in the evaluation, but choosing players for the 2017 all-conference team is largely based on predicting and projecting the best for the upcoming year.

ACC Football 2017 All-Conference Team

First-Team Offense Second-Team Offense Third-Team Offense Fourth-Team Offense QB Lamar Jackson Louisville Deondre Francois Florida State Eric Dungey Syracuse Daniel Jones Duke RB Dedrick Mills Ga. Tech Cam Akers Florida State Qadree Ollison Pitt Shaun Wilson Duke RB Mark Walton Miami Jacques Patrick Florida State Travon McMillian Va. Tech Jeremy Smith Louisville AP Jaylen Samuels NC State Quadree Henderson Pitt Nyheim Hines NC State Tavien Feaster (RB) Clemson WR Ahmmon Richards Miami Nyqwan Murray Florida State Jester Weah Pitt Steve Ishmael Syracuse WR Deon Cain Clemson Cam Phillips Va. Tech Ervin Phillips Syracuse Hunter Renfrow Clemson TE Christopher Herndon Miami Cam Serigne Wake Forest Tommy Sweeney Boston College Jaylen Smith (WR) Louisville C Tony Adams (OL) NC State Austin Davis (C) Duke Alex Bookser (OL) Pitt T.J. Rahming (WR) Duke OL Mitch Hyatt Clemson Alex Officer Pitt Yosuah Nijman Va. Tech Ryan Anderson Wake Forest OL Tyrone Crowder Clemson Bentley Spain North Carolina Jon Baker Boston College Will Bryan Ga. Tech OL Wyatt Teller Va. Tech Geron Christian Louisville KC McDermott Miami Gabe Brandner Duke OL Brian O'Neill Pitt Parker Braun Ga. Tech Landon Dickerson Florida State Cole Minshew Florida State

First-Team Defense Second-Team Defense Third-Team Defense Fourth-Team Defense DL Dexter Lawrence Clemson Derrick Nnadi Florida State Kendrick Norton Miami Andrew Brown Virginia DL Christian Wilkins Clemson Duke Ejiofor Wake Forest Brian Burns Florida State Drew Bailey Louisville DL Harold Landry Boston College Josh Sweat Florida State Joe Jackson Miami B.J. Hill NC State DL Bradley Chubb NC State Clelin Ferrell Clemson Tim Settle Va. Tech Aaron Crawford North Carolina LB Stacy Thomas Louisville Kendall Joseph Clemson Ben Humphreys Duke Connor Strachan Boston College LB Micah Kiser Virginia Andrew Motuapuaka Va. Tech Matthew Thomas Florida State Joe Giles-Harris Duke LB Tremaine Edmunds Va. Tech Shaq Quarterman Miami Zaire Franklin Syracuse Andre Smith North Carolina CB Jaire Alexander Louisville Greg Stroman Va. Tech Brandon Facyson Va. Tech Ryan Carter Clemson CB Tarvarus McFadden Florida State M.J. Stewart North Carolina Lance Austin Ga. Tech Bryon Fields Duke S Derwin James Florida State Jordan Whitehead Pitt Chucky Williams Louisville Donnie Miles North Carolina S Quin Blanding Virginia Jessie Bates Wake Forest Terrell Edmunds Va. Tech Van Smith Clemson

First-Team Specialists Second-Team Specialists Third-Team Specialists Fourth-Team Specialists K Michael Badgley Miami Mike Weaver Wake Forest Greg Huegel Clemson Joey Slye Va. Tech P Sterling Hofrichter Syracuse Tom Sheldon North Carolina Dom Maggio Wake Forest Ryan Winslow Pitt KR Quadree Henderson Pitt Joe Reed Virginia Shaun Wilson Duke Nyheim Hines NC State PR Braxton Berrios Miami Quadree Henderson Pitt Greg Stroman Va. Tech Brad Stewart Ga. Tech

Team-by-Team Breakdown of Athlon's 2017 All-ACC Team