2011 ACC Football Preview: Preseason Awards
ByACC Most Valuable Player: David Wilson RB, Virginia Tech
Frank Beamer is going to rely on the junior tailback more than ever this season, especially early on when Logan Thomas is attempting to fill Tyrod Taylor’s shoes at quarterback. If Wilson carry shoulder the load for the first half of the season and allow Thomas to settle into his situation the Hokies will be a well-oiled machine come November.
Offensive Player of the Year: Montel Harris RB, Boston College
Harris is poised to become the ACC’s all-time leading rusher toward the middle of the 2011 season. He’ll need 1,003 yards to surpass N.C. State great Ted Brown and will be given every opportunity to do so, early and often. Because of BC’s quarterback situation, the coaching staff will be ecstatic if they can hand the ball off to Harris 25-30 times a game and let him do his magic. Although opposing defenses will stack the box against him, Harris has worked extremely hard throughout the off-season to make sure he’s not the one to break down first.
Defensive Player of the Year: Luke Kuechly LB, Boston College
The problem in Chestnut Hill won’t be tackling, as Kuechly and fellow LB Kevin Pierre-Louis will do more than their share. Kuechly has a nose for the football and an uncanny ability to read and blow up plays earlier than almost every linebacker in the country. He may not be the quickest sideline to sideline but his ability to finish plays and impede runner’s progress is second to none. He’ll have another monster season for the Eagles.
Coach of the Year: Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
If the Hokies go undefeated during the regular season -which I expect them to- with a first-year quarterback than Beamer deserves the award. North Carolina’s Everett Withers, who is currently working with an interim tag, has every chance in the world to make some noise due to the studs he inherited but Beamer is the frontrunner.
Rookie of the Year: Sammy Watkins WR, Clemson
The #4 wide receiver in the country coming out of South Fort Myers High School has a chance to start from day one for Dabo Swinney. Whether or not he makes an impact depends a lot on how quickly Tajh Boyd adapts to his position at QB. Chances are Watkins will make the biggest impact of any freshman wide out at Clemson in a long time.
Best NFL Draft Prospect: Quinton Coples DE, North Carolina
Most NFL Draft experts have Coples right behind Andrew Luck on their big boards due to the ability of defensive ends to make quick adjustments to the NFL’s style of play and quickness. It will help that Coples has Dontae Paige-Moss on the opposite side to help him out, make OCs think twice about double teaming him and running plays away from his side. Coples should have a tremendous season for an under-rated North Carolina squad.
Most Over-Rated Player: Danny O’Brien QB, Maryland
O’Brien was very good during his sophomore season with the Terps but he is being counted on to produce a lot more than statistics this season. The Terps are expected to continue their winning ways after pulling out a few games they had no business being in last season. I don’t expect a 9-win season out of Randy Edsall in his first season and neither should the local media. O’Brien will be fine but we shouldn’t expect him to be Cam Newton, or even Jimmy Clausen for that matter.
Most Under-Rated Player: Greg Reid CB, Florida State
Reid is one of the most dynamic return men in the country but the lightning fast 5’8″ jitterbug can also lock his man up on the outside, something a lot of athletes have a hard time doing. He will be highly coveted when it comes Draft time because of his ability to change the game in so many different ways. The ‘Noles even contemplate using him at wide receiver early in his career.
