Thirteen Clemson Players Named to Coaches All-ACC Teams

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson juniors Sammy Watkins and Vic Beasley and senior tackle Brandon Thomas were named first-team All-ACC by the Atlantic Coast Conference Coaches on Wednesday.

Overall, 13 Clemson players were named to various All-ACC teams as chosen by the 14  league coaches. Quarterback Tajh Boyd was named second-team All-ACC, while running back Roderick McDowell, offensive guard Tyler Shatley, linebacker Spencer Shuey, linebacker Stephone Anthony, kicker Chandler Catanzaro and cornerback Bashaud Breeland were named third team.

Wide receiver Martavis Bryant, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Corey Crawford were named honorable mention.

Watkins ranks 11th in the nation and leads the ACC in receiving yards with  1237 so far this season. He also has 10 touchdown receptions on his 85 receptions. He needs just four receptions in Clemson’s bowl game to break Aaron Kelley’s record for a season in terms of total catches.

Watkins was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2011 as a freshman. The native of  Fort Myers, FL is a finalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the outstanding receiver in college football.

Beasley has 12 sacks so far this year to go with 19 tackles for loss and four caused fumbles. Beasley’s 12 sacks rank third in the nation and tied for first in the ACC.  His 19 tackles for loss rank seventh best in the nation. He is a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the top defensive end in the nation.

Thomas helped the Clemson offense average over 40 points and 500 yards per game this year. A first-team All-ACC selection last year, Thomas has started 35 consecutive games and has 96 career knockdown blocks.

This is the third consecutive year Boyd has made first or second-team All-ACC. He is the first quarterback in school history to be named All-ACC three times. So far this year Boyd has completed 252-373 passes for 3473 yards and 29 touchdowns.

He ranks first in the ACC in total offense with 312.2 yards per game and is second in passing efficiency, passing yards per game and touchdown passes. He is the ACC’s career leader in touchdown passes (102) and touchdown responsibility (127).

Boyd was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Award and is a finalist for the Manning Award, which will be presented to the top quarterback in the nation after the bowl games.             Summary of Clemson All-ACC Players as Chosen by ACC CoachesFirst-Team: Sammy Watkins (WR), Brandon Thomas (OT), Vic Beasley, (DE) Second-Team: Tajh Boyd (QB) Third-Team: Roderick McDowell (RB), Tyler Shatley (OG), Spencer Shuey (LB), Stephone Anthony (LB), Bashaud Breeland (CB), Chandler Catanzaro (PK) Honorable Mention: Martavis Bryant (WR), Grady Jarrett (DT), Corey Crawford (DE)