Keeping It Heel
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ACC in the NFL: 2017 All-ACC NFL All-Star Team

By Brandon Griffin

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 05: Julius Peppers
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 05: Julius Peppers /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Dion Lewis
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 21: Dion Lewis /

Defensive Line

. (Miami). . DE Calais Campbell. 93. team. 52

Campbell makes this season for the second straight year, though this time as part of the NFL best Jacksonville Jaguars defense. Campbell finished second in the league in sacks and 17th in tackles for loss.

Jacksonville had one of the team’s best seasons making a run all the way to the AFC championship game against New England. Campbell was a big part of that run with 11 tackles in the playoffs, though he finished with no sacks in the three games.

Campbell made the AP All-Pro squad, PFF All-Pro second team, and the Pro Bowl. It was Campbell’s third Pro Bowl, though he was not able to play due to injury.

. (Pittsburgh). . DT Aaron Donald. 99. team. 51

Aaron Donald is the fourth Pittsburgh Panther on this team as he continues to be one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Donald had 11 sacks this season to go along with 16 tackles for loss, both of which were tops in the NFL.

Donald also had five forced fumbles, which was second in the league, as he helped lead the Rams to an NFC West title and the playoffs for the first time since 2004. In the team’s loss to Atlanta, Donald was nearly unstoppable with five tackles and half a sack.

Donald was named to both the AP and PFF All-Pro teams as well as the Pro Bowl for a fourth consecutive season, though he did not play due to injury.

. (Clemson). . DT Grady Jarrett. 97. team. 44

Jarrett makes this team due to the addition of an extra defensive tackle position. Last season I took a 3-4 approach. This season I figured so many teams run hybrid 3-4/4-3, might as well do the same. Jarrett had a good year for the Falcons who made the playoffs for a second straight year.

Jarrett ranked second among defensive tackles with 15 tackles for loss. In the Falcons’ five-point loss to the Eagles, Jarrett had two tackles, as Atlanta held Philadelphia to just 92 total yards.

. (North Carolina). . DE Julius Peppers. 90. team. 87

Peppers is the second Tar Heel to make this team after having a breakout year following a return to the Carolina Panthers. Peppers playing more as a situational rusher finished with 11 sacks, his most since 2012.

This was the 10th time Peppers had double-digit sacks in his career and the second time in the past three seasons. Peppers play helped the Panthers return to the playoffs where he had two tackles in the team’s loss to New Orleans.

Honorable Mention to Chris Long who plays a similar role for the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles.

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