Five Tigers Named Preseason All-ACC

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson led all schools with five selections to the preseason All-ACC Football Team selected by media attending the ACC Kickoff in Pinehurst, N.C., earlier this week. The team was announced on Thursday after 163 members of the media submitted votes.

Clemson led the offense with four selections, as quarterback Deshaun Watson, offensive guard Eric Mac Lain and wide receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott were named. Shaq Lawson was Clemson’s lone representative on the first team defense.

Watson, who was named the preseason ACC Player of the Year earlier this week, was on 100 of the 163 ballots as the first-team quarterback. The sophomore completed 68 percent of his passes last year and threw 14 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. He also accounted for five scores on the ground.

Williams had 1,030 yards receiving on 57 receptions last year when he averaged 18 yards per catch, seventh-best in the nation among players with at least 50 catches. Scott was a first-team Freshman All-American last year when he had 965 receiving yards and a team-high 76 receptions. Both had over 100 receiving yards in the win over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

Mac Lain is the only player on  the team who already has an undergraduate degree. The native of  Hope Mills, N.C., is a veteran of 39 games at Clemson and had his best game against Oklahoma.

Lawson started just one game last year, but had 44 tackles in 295 plays. He added 11 tackles for loss and is the first Clemson player since Anthony Simmons (1995-96) to have at least 10 tackles for loss as a freshman and sophomore.

Clemson led the way with five selections to the first team, while Florida State and Virginia Tech had four apiece.