FSU places 15 players on All-ACC team

Nov 29, 2022 - 9:41 PM

After finishing the year with its best overall and conference record since 2016, No. 14 Florida State Seminoles football (9-3, 5-3 ACC) has placed 15 players on the All-ACC team, including offensive lineman Dillan Gibbons, safety Jammie Robinson and defensive end Jared Verse on the first-team.

Quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson and offensive lineman Robert Scott Jr. were placed on the All-ACC Second Team, offensive lineman D’Mitri Emmanuel earned a Third-Team placement, and running back Treshaun Ward, offensive lineman Maurice Smith, defensive linemen Fabian Lovett and Robert Cooper, linebacker Tatum Bethune and wide receiver Mycah Pittman earned honorable mention nods.

The 15 selections are the most since FSU placed nine on the list in 2015 — that year, FSU had five First-Team selections (running back Dalvin Cook, offensive lineman Roderick Johnson, kicker Roberto Aguayo, defensive back Jalen Ramsey, defensive tackle Nile Lawrence-Staple.)

Last season, FSU placed eight on the list — defensive end Jermaine Johnson II and defensive back Jammie Robinson (First-Team) running back Jashaun Corbin and defensive end Kier Thomas (Third-Team), defensive linemen Fabian Lovett and Robert Cooper, offensive linemen Devontay Love-Taylor and Dillan Gibbons (Honorable Mention.)

The full release from FSU Sports Info:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State had 15 players earn All-ACC honors Tuesday, including three on the first team, four on the second team, one on the third team and seven honorable mention. Safety Jammie Robinson was named a first-team safety for the second consecutive season, offensive guard Dillan Gibbons earned his first first-team honor after an honorable mention season in 2021, and defensive end Jared Verse earned the most votes among all defensive players in his first season in the league.

Quarterback Jordan Travis, running back Trey Benson, wide receiver Johnny Wilson and offensive tackle Robert Scott Jr. are on the second team, while offensive guard D’Mitri Emmanuel is on the third team.

Center Maurice Smith and running back Treshaun Ward are on the honorable mention list, joining defensive tackles Fabien Lovett and Robert Cooper, linebacker Tatum Bethune and cornerback Renardo Green. Punt returner Mycah Pittman is an honorable mention as a specialist.

Florida State’s 15 total selections are the second-most in the conference this year and the most for FSU since 2015, when the Noles had 17 players represented. The four offensive linemen are tied for the most this season and FSU’s most since having five in 2014, while the three first-team selections are FSU’s most since having five in 2016.

Robinson, from Cordele, Georgia, led Florida State with 86 tackles and five quarterback hurries, adding 4.0 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and an interception. Robinson had a season-high 13 tackles against Wake Forest to earn Defensive Back of the Week honors, and his interception came the following week against NC State. Robinson added 10 tackles against Florida in the regular season finale and pressured the Gators into an incomplete pass on their final play to secure a 45-38 victory for the Seminoles.

The Seminoles are fourth nationally and lead the ACC with just 158.9 passing yards per game allowed.

Robinson is the first FSU player to earn first-team All-ACC honors in back-to-back seasons since running back Dalvin Cook and offensive lineman Roderick Johnson in 2015-16; he is the first defensive player since defensive back Jalen Ramsey in 2014-15.

Verse, from Dayton, Ohio, made an impact in his first season with Florida State, leading FSU with 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, with 41 tackles, a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery. Verse finished in the Top 5 in the conference in both sacks and tackles for loss.

Against LSU, Verse was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after all three of his tackles were for a loss, including 2.0 sacks. He added a blocked field goal against the Tigers – the first of his FSU career – as FSU went on to win, 24-23. Outside of the two games he was injured, Verse had at least 0.5 tackles for loss in every game and had three games with at least 2.5 tackles for loss. He recovered a fumble at Miami and returned it 10 yards as FSU beat the Hurricanes, 45-3.

Verse is the second Seminole defensive end in as many seasons to be named to the first team in his first year – Jermaine Johnson II was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.

Gibbons, from St. Petersburg, started all 12 games at left guard. The Jim Tatum Award winner as the ACC’s top senior student-athlete, Gibbons and the offense ended the regular season with seven consecutive 200-yard rushing games, the longest streak in the country this season and tied for the longest in Florida State history. FSU leads the ACC with 217.8 rushing yards per game and is the only team in the league averaging 250 passing yards and 210 rushing yards per game.

The Seminole offense also ranks fourth in the nation on third down, converting 51.9 percent of its opportunities.

Gibbons was the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance at Miami, the second weekly honor of his career. He was an honorable mention All-ACC selection in 2021.

Travis, from West Palm Beach, is one of four players from FSU’s high-powered offense on the second team. Travis passed for 2,796 yards with 22 touchdowns and ran for 481 yards with seven touchdowns. With his receiving touchdown at Syracuse, he is just the fourth quarterback in FSU history to account for 30 touchdowns and 3,000 total yards in a season, joining Heisman Trophy winners Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke and Jameis Winston.

Travis leads the ACC and is ninth nationally with 14.05 yards per completion, while ranking 12th in the country with 8.88 yards per attempt. He is on a current streak of six consecutive games with at least three total touchdowns and one or fewer turnover, the longest streak in Florida State history and tied with USC’s Caleb Williams for the longest active streak in the country.

At Syracuse, Travis accounted for all five of FSU’s touchdowns – three passing, one rushing and one receiving. He is just the second player in FSU history – and one of four nationally this season – with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

A semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, Travis set a career high with 396 passing yards against Georgia Tech, which began FSU’s current five-game winning streak. He ranks in FSU’s Top 10 for career passing touchdowns (43) and rushing touchdowns (24), the only player in the Top 10 in both categories.

Benson, from Greenville, Mississippi, has won four of the past five ACC Running Back of the Week awards. After 111 yards and a career-high three rushing touchdowns against Florida, Benson ended the regular season with 965 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, both Top 20 in FSU single-season history. He also caught 12 passes for 111 yards and returned a kick 93 yards for a touchdown, one of just four ACC players with a kick return touchdown this year and FSU’s first since 2013.

Benson has started five straight games and been the league’s top runner four times, including setting career highs against Georgia Tech (111 yards), Miami (128) and Syracuse (163) in consecutive weeks before adding 111 and three touchdowns against Florida. Benson’s 163 rushing yards against the Orange were the most for an ACC player on the road this season, and he scored three touchdowns in a game twice – against Boston College (two rushing, one kickoff) and Florida (three rushing).

Benson was the first player in ACC history to win three outright Running Back of the Week awards and he tied Pitt’s Israel Abanikanda with four on the season.

Wilson, from Pacoima, California, led FSU with 35 catches, 695 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. He averaged 19.86 yards per catch, ninth-best in the country. Wilson was the ACC’s Receiver of the Week after setting career highs against Louisville with seven catches, 149 yards and two touchdowns in FSU’s come-from-behind 35-31 win.

Scott, from Conway, Arkansas, started 10 games at left tackle to earn his first career All-ACC recognition. The sophomore was part of a line that three times did not allow a sack, FSU’s most sack-free games since 2012. The Noles led the ACC in third down offense, pass yards per completion and rushing offense while finishing second in passing offense, sacks allowed and interceptions thrown.

Emmanuel, a transfer from Charlotte, started all 12 games at right guard and was the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week in FSU’s 41-16 win against Georgia Tech. The Seminoles have scored 38 or more points in five straight games and scored 45 against both Miami and Florida in the same season for the first time in program history. As a unit, FSU had four Offensive Lineman of the Week honors on the season, tied for the most in the league and FSU’s most since 2014.

Smith, from Miami, was twice named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week – against Syracuse and Florida. At Syracuse, FSU ran for 230 yards, while Benson had 163 yards, the most in a road game in the ACC this year. Against Florida, the Noles scored 45 points (FSU’s most against Florida since 1992) and totaled 497 yards of offense, FSU’s most in the series since 1994. The Noles scored five touchdowns on the ground, the most for any team against the Gators since 1997.

Ward, from Plant City, Florida, ran for 547 yards and five touchdowns in nine games, adding six catches and 19 yards receiving. Ward twice ran for over 100 yards – in the opener against Duquesne, when he set a career high with 127 yards and at Louisville, when he had 126 rushing yards. He scored two touchdowns against the Dukes in the opener and added scores against Boston College and two vs. Louisiana.

Lovett, from Vicksburg, Mississippi, was an honorable mention defensive tackle in 2021. He had 10 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack, over seven games. He added a pass breakup and forced a fumble against Louisiana, the first of his career.

Cooper, from Lilburn, Georgia, was also an honorable mention defensive tackle last season. He started all 12 games in 2022, finishing with 16 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. The redshirt senior has started 40 games in his career, the most among active Seminoles.

Bethune, from Miami, finished second on the team with 76 tackles while also ranking second with 8.5 tackles for loss. Bethune tallied 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and recovered his first career fumble at Louisville. Bethune’s 14 tackles at NC State were the most for a Seminole in 2022, and he was one of just two ACC players with 14 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in a game.

Green, from Orlando, was fourth on the team with 52 tackles, adding 2.0 tackles for loss and four pass breakups. Green started 11 of 12 games for the FSU defense, who finished with the top passing defense and total defense in the conference. FSU allowed 62 passing yards to Miami and 65 at Syracuse, the two fewest passing totals in the ACC this season and the first time any FBS team has allowed 65 or fewer passing yards in consecutive games since 2019.

Pittman, from Tampa, finished second in the ACC with 9.4 yards per punt return. On offense, he caught 29 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. Pittman had a 34-yard punt return against Wake Forest and also caught two touchdowns against the Demon Deacons. He added a 31-yard punt return against Clemson, and also caught a touchdown at NC State.

The ACC will continue to announce award winners throughout the week. On Monday, Gibbons earned the Jim Tatum Award as the ACC’s top senior student-athlete. On Wednesday, the ACC will announce Players of the Year and Rookies of the Year, and Coach of the Year will be presented Thursday.

2022 All-ACC Football Teams

First-Team All-ACC

Offense

Quarterback: Drake Maye, North Carolina Tar Heels, 177

Running Back: Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh Panthers, 187

Running Back: Will Shipley, Clemson Tigers, 164

Wide Receiver: Zay Flowers, Boston College Eagles, 184

Wide Receiver: Josh Downs, North Carolina, 184

Wide Receiver: A.T. Perry, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 167

Tight End: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse Orange, 127

All-Purpose: Will Shipley, Clemson, 166

Offensive Tackle: Jordan McFadden, Clemson, 159

Offensive Tackle: Graham Barton, Duke Blue Devils, 132

Offensive Guard: Dillan Gibbons, Florida State Seminoles, 131

Offensive Guard: Chandler Zavala, NC State Wolfpack, 119 (tie)

Offensive Guard: Marcus Minor, Pitt, 119 (tie)

Center: Grant Gibson, NC State, 132

Defense

Defensive End: Jared Verse, Florida State, 163

Defensive End: Myles Murphy, Clemson, 112

Defensive Tackle: Calijah Kancey, Pitt, 160

Defensive Tackle: Tyler Davis, Clemson, 116

Linebacker: Cedric Gray, North Carolina, 128

Linebacker: Yasir Abdullah, Louisville Cardinals, 116

Linebacker: SirVocea Dennis, Pitt, 116

Cornerback: Aydan White, NC State, 117

Cornerback: Anthony Johnson, Virginia Cavaliers, 84

Safety: Kam Kinchens, Miami, 139

Safety: Jammie Robinson, Florida State, 129

Specialists

Kicker: Christopher Dunn, NC State, 177

Punter: Lou Hedley, Miami Hurricanes, 133

Return Specialist: Will Shipley, Clemson, 131

Second-Team All-ACC

Offense

Quarterback: Jordan Travis, Florida State, 98

Running Back: Sean Tucker, Syracuse, 140

Running Back: Trey Benson, Florida State, 137

Wide Receiver: Jared Wayne, Pitt, 114

Wide Receiver: Tyler Hudson, Louisville, 109

Wide Receiver: Johnny Wilson, Florida State, 81

Tight End: Will Mallory, Miami, 94

All-Purpose: Josh Downs, North Carolina, 81

Offensive Tackle: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse, 114

Offensive Tackle: Robert Scott, Florida State, 69

Offensive Guard: Sean Maginn, Wake Forest, 88

Offensive Guard: Caleb Chandler, Louisville, 81

Center: Bryan Hudson, Louisville, 57

Defense

Defensive End: K.J. Henry, Clemson, 80

Defensive End: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College, 75

Defensive Tackle: DeWayne Carter, Duke, 95

Defensive Tackle: Bryan Bresee, Clemson, 61

Linebacker: Drake Thomas, NC State, 108

Linebacker: Nick Jackson, Virginia, 75

Linebacker: Ayinde Eley, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 70

Cornerback: Fentrell Cypress, Virginia, 69

Cornerback: Storm Duck, North Carolina, 65

Safety: Tanner Ingle, NC State, 91

Safety: Erick Hallett II, Pitt, 83

Specialists

Kicker: B.T. Potter, Clemson, 86

Punter: Daniel Sparks, Virginia, 97

Return Specialist: M.J. Devonshire, Pitt, 89

Third-Team All-ACC

Offense

Quarterback: Sam Hartman, Wake Forest, 82

Running Back: Henry Parrish, Jr., Miami, 49

Running Back: Justice Ellison, Wake Forest, 38

Wide Receiver: Jalon Calhoun, Duke, 68

Wide Receiver: Antoine Green, North Carolina, 56

Wide Receiver: Keytaon Thompson, Virginia, 50

Tight End: Davis Allen, Clemson, 52

All-Purpose: Sean Tucker, Syracuse, 64

Offensive Tackle: Matt Goncalves, Pitt, 66

Offensive Tackle: Asim Richards, North Carolina, 62

Offensive Guard: D’Mitri Emmanuel, Florida State, 57

Offensive Guard: Jake Kradel, Pitt, 50

Center: Will Putnam, Clemson, 51

Defense

Defensive End: Yaya Diaby, Louisville, 65

Defensive End: Keion White, Georgia Tech, 44

Defensive Tackle: Kobie Turner, Wake Forest, 53

Defensive Tackle: Cory Durden, NC State, 44

Linebacker: Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech, 63

Linebacker: Trenton Simpson, Clemson, 58

Linebacker: Mikel Jones, Syracuse, 55

Cornerback: Kei’Trel Clark, Louisville, 64

Cornerback: Tyrique Stevenson, Miami, 42

Safety: Darius Joiner, Duke, 63

Safety: LaMiles Brooks, Georgia Tech, 47

Specialists

Kicker: James Turner, Louisville, 72

Punter: Ben Kiernan, North Carolina, 53

Return Specialist: Jalon Calhoun, Duke, 74

Honorable-Mention All-ACC

Quarterback: Riley Leonard, Duke, 22

Running Back: Treshaun Ward, Florida State, 31

Running Back: Tiyon Evans, Louisville, 30

Wide Receiver: Thayer Thomas, NC State, 43

Wide Receiver: Nate McCollum, Georgia Tech, 37

Wide Receiver: Kaleb Smith, Virginia Tech Hokies, 22

Wide Receiver: Jahmal Banks, Wake Forest, 21

Wide Receiver: Antonio Williams, Clemson, 15

TE- Bryson Nesbit, North Carolina, 44

Tight End: Marshon Ford, Louisville, 27

All-Purpose: Jalon Calhoun, Duke, 32

All-Purpose: Hassan Hall, Georgia Tech, 18

Offensive Tackle: DeVonte Gordon, Wake Forest, 38

Offensive Tackle: Renato Brown, Louisville, 32

Offensive Tackle: DJ Scaife, Jr., Miami, 31

Offensive Tackle: Timothy McKay, NC State, 30

Offensive Tackle: Silas Dzansi, Virginia Tech, 21

Offensive Guard: Walker Parks, Clemson, 48

Offensive Guard: Marcus Tate, Clemson, 38

Offensive Guard: Loic Ngassam Nya, Wake Forest, 19

Offensive Guard: Jalen Rivers, Miami, 16

Center: Michael Jurgens, Wake Forest, 44

Center: Corey Gaynor, North Carolina, 26

Center: Maurice Smith, Florida State, 25

Center: Jacob Monk, Duke, 25

Center: Jake Kradel, Pitt, 21

Defensive End: TyJuan Garbutt, Virginia Tech, 38

Defensive End: Akheem Mesidor, Miami, 36

Defensive End: Chico Bennett, Virginia, 35

Defensive End: Jasheen Davis, Wake Forest, 21

Defensive End: Deslin Alexandre, Pitt, 19

Defensive End: Rondell Bothroyd, Wake Forest, 17

Defensive Tackle: Fabien Lovett, Florida State, 36

Defensive Tackle: Leonard Taylor III, Miami, 34

Defensive Tackle: Aaron Faumui, Virginia, 22

Defensive Tackle: Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson, 18

Defensive Tackle: Robert Cooper, Florida State, 17

Defensive Tackle: Chibueze Onwuka, Boston College, 16

Defensive Tackle: Ashton Gillotte, Louisville, 15

Linebacker: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson, 51

Linebacker: Isaiah Moore, NC State, 48

Linebacker: Ryan Smenda, Jr., Wake Forest, 45

Linebacker: Barrett Carter, Clemson, 36

Linebacker: Shaka Heyward, Duke, 34

Linebacker: Payton Wilson, NC State, 25

Linebacker: Dax Hollifield, Virginia Tech, 22

Linebacker: Momo Sanogo, Louisville, 20

Linebacker: Tatum Bethune, Florida State, 19

Linebacker: Power Echols, North Carolina, 17

Linebacker: Marlowe Wax, Syracuse, 16

Linebacker: Vinny DePalma, Boston College, 15

Cornerback: Duce Chestnut, Syracuse, 39

Cornerback: Elijah Jones, Boston College, 37

Cornerback: M.J. Devonshire, Pitt, 33

Cornerback: Zamari Walton, Georgia Tech, 27

Cornerback: Garrett Williams, Syracuse, 26

Cornerback: Marquis Williams, Pitt, 26

Cornerback: Sheridan Jones, Clemson, 25

Cornerback: Renardo Green, Florida State, 24

Cornerback: Nate Wiggins, Clemson, 24

Cornerback: Josh DeBerry, Boston College, 23

Cornerback: Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech, 19

Cornerback: Tyler Baker-Williams, NC State, 17

Safety: Brandon Hill, Pitt, 37

Safety: Andrew Mukuba, Clemson, 34

Safety: Ja’Had Carter, Syracuse, 33

Safety: Jaiden Woodbey, Boston College, 25

Safety: Brandon Johnson, Duke, 22

Safety: Jalyn Phillips, Clemson, 17

Kicker: Andres Borregales, Miami, 17

Punter: Mark Vassett, Louisville, 45

Punter: Porter Wilson, Duke, 16

Return Specialist: Mycah Pittman, Florida State, 59

Return Specialist: Tucker Holloway, Virginia Tech, 26