Six UNC football players earn All-ACC Honors for the 2024 season

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced All-ACC honors Tuesday. The UNC football program had six players recognized, with eight honors given. Omarion Hampton and Willie Lampkin were named first-team All-ACC selections. Hampton was also awarded second-team all-purpose back, while defensive lineman Jahvaree Ritzie earned third-team honors.

Three Tar Heels, Howard Sampson, Power Echols, and Alijah Huzzie were tabbed as honorable mention selections.

Hampton, who some consider to be a Heisman-worthy back, currently sits second in the FBS in rushing yards with 1,660 ( 138.3 per game ). He ranks in the top 15 in the FBS in several major categories, including 13th in touchdowns with 15 and fifth in rushing attempts per game with 23.4.

Hampton beat a 54-year-old single-season record for all-purpose yards with 2,033. The previous record was set in 1970 by Don McCauley with 2,021 yards.

Lampkin, who earned third-team honors last season, has not allowed a sack all season long. Sampson, a North Texas transfer in his first season with the Tar Heels, started all 12 games for the Tar Heels. He and Lampkin helped the Tar Heels average over 400 yards of offense per game and rank second in the ACC in offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, Ritzie had 40 tackles, nine sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, five QB hurries, and forced two fumbles. He ranks 8th in the conference for sacks. Huzzie had 39 tackles, eight pass breakups, and recorded two sacks and an interception. Huzzie also had 154 yards and one touchdown on 11 attempts, which comes out to 14 yards per attempt, which is good enough to rank eighth nationally.

Echols finished with 76 tackles ( second on the team behind Antavious Lane ). He also posted three quarterback hurries and 1.5 tackles for loss, adding an interception and a fumble recovery.