UNC Football: Anthony Ratliff-Williams named preseason All-ACC

UNC wide receiver and return man Anthony Ratliff-Williams was named to the preseason All-ACC team on Tuesday

Anthony Ratliff-Williams was one of the bright spots in a down year for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2017. The junior made headlines with his big play ability both in the receiving game, passing game and return game.

He was no doubt UNC’s most explosive player last year and had the chance to take it to the house whenever he touched the football.

Going into 2018 Ratliff-Williams will still be considered a legit threat in what will be a questionable UNC offense. But as we prepare for the season to start in just over a month, Ratliff-Williams has received some praise.

The 2018 preseason All-Atlantic Coast Conference team was released on Tuesday morning as media members voted at the ACC media days last week on players both on offense, defense and special teams.

While Ratliff-Williams is both a receiver and return man, he was selected as a specialist by the media earning 97 votes. He joins Florida State kicker Ricky Aguayo and Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter.

Ratliff-Williams is the lone Tar Heel player named to the All-ACC Preseason team with both Duke and N.C. State having two players each.

As a return man, Ratliff-Williams had 895 return yards which were second in the nation. He had two return touchdowns including one against Louisville and one to open the game in the win over Pitt.

He did more than just that, however. As a receiver, Ratliff-Williams finished the year with 35 receptions for 630 yards and 6 touchdowns. He emerged as the go-to guy at wide receiver despite playing with three different quarterbacks last season.

Ratliff-Williams entered the program as a quarterback but was moved after Mitchell Trubisky began developing. UNC then moved him to wide receiver but he still had an opportunity to show off his arm at times.

In 2017, Ratliff-Williams completed three of his four passing attempts for two touchdowns and 86 yards.

Next: UNC picked to finish near bottom in ACC

He’s emerged as the go-to guy for trick plays in UNC’s offense and it shouldn’t be much different going into this season.