UNC Football: 13 Tar Heels Recognized on the All-ACC Team

The UNC football team was well-represented when the conference announced the All-ACC teams Tuesday evening. 

Star running back Omarion Hampton was one of three UNC football players to be named to the All-ACC first team. Tight end Bryson Nesbit and linebacker Cedric Gray joined Hampton on the first team.

Omarion Hampton led the ACC with 1,442 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns in a career year. Hampton is nearly 400 yards ahead of second leading rusher Jawhar Jordan of Louisville, who also made the first team. Hampton was also named a Doak Walker Award Finalist earlier this morning.

Bryson Nesbit led all ACC tight ends with 41 catches for 585 yards and 5 touchdowns. Nesbit is top-20 in receiving yards in the conference, which is impressive considering he is the only tight end on that list. Nesbit is also tied for the third-longest reception with 62 yards.

Cedric Gray was second in the ACC in tackles with 121. Gray is also tied for 15th in sacks with 5 from the linebacker position. The only players with more sacks than Gray are traditional defensive tackles and ends. Gray also forced 2 fumbles and intercepted a pass this season. His most notable game was the season finale against NC State where he recorded 17 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

Star quarterback and projected top-5 draft pick Drake Maye headlined the second team. The future NFL QB led the conference with 269 completions for 3,608 yards and 24 touchdowns. The only QB to throw more touchdowns is Haynes King from Georgia Tech. Maye also had the third best passer rating at 149.

Defensive end Kaimon Rucker and place kicker Noah Burnette joined Maye on the second team.  Rucker was third in the ACC in sacks with 8.5. Rucker also had 2 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble.

Burnette had the third most made field goals in the conference with 18. He went 18/19 on the season, making him the most accurate kicker in the ACC at 94.7%.

Devontez Walker, Willie Lampkin and Power Echols were named to the third team. Walker finished tenth in yards with 699 despite playing in only eight games. He was also tied for seventh most touchdowns with 7.

Willie Lampkin transferred to Carolina after starting three years at Coastal Carolina. Lampkin was a key part of keeping Maye protected as he threw for the most yards in the ACC.

Power Echols recorded 91 total tackles, good for seventh-most in the ACC. He also had two forced fumbles and an interception in a season in which he played a huge role in the UNC football program’s defense.

Several Tar Heels were also honorable mentions. The players honored included Spencer Rolland, Corey Gaynor, Myles Murphy, and  Alijah Huzzie.

Although the season didn’t end the way many UNC Football fans wanted it to, there’s no doubt it was a successful season for many of the players. It will be interesting to see which players play in the bowl game coming soon.

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