As we head to the first games of the 2024 season, we have some high-end pre-season All-American team selections. Four ACC players are on the AP pre-season All-American team.
The SEC led all conferences with 10 first-round selections. The Big 10 had eight. The ACC was third with its four. The Big 12 had three. There were two from Notre Dame.
North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, Louisville edge rusher Ashton Gillotte, Clemson linebacker Barrett Carter, and Florida State punter Alex Mastromanno were all named first-team pre-season All-American by the Associated Press.
One on Offense
Hampton is inarguably one of the best running backs in the country. He had a breakout season for the Tar Heels last year, rushing for 1,442 yards and 15 touchdowns. Hampton also had 215 receiving yards with a touchdown. He had his conference breakout game against Miami last year with 197 yards on 24 carries, (8.2 yards per carry).
The Defense
Gillotte is entering his fourth year for the Cardinals. His name can be found on all of the pre-season watch lists for defensive awards. He finished the 2023 season with 45 total tackles, 11 sacks, and three forced fumbles. At 6-3, 275 pounds, he is exceptionally quick off the snap. He had a season-high seven tackles against Virginia last year to go with one-and-a-half sacks.
Carter is a no-brainer as one of the top linebackers in the country. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney recently called him, “One of the best pure football players I’ve had in 20 years.” Over his three years at Clemson Carter has 151 total tackles with 21 for loss. He also has nine sacks and three interceptions. Among other honors Carter has collected ahead of the 2024 season, Carter was named preseason All-American by Phil Steele as well as by the Walter Camp All-American committee.
Special Teams
Mastromanno is entering his fifth year at Florida State. He averaged 45.5 yards per punt in 2023. Mastromanno totaled 3,004 yards on his kicks last year. He was a second-team All-American for The Sporting News. Last year he was the first punter in Florida State history to be a finalist for the Ray Guy Award for the best punter in the country.
Miami placekicker Andres Borregales was named to the AP second-team All-American roster.
The entire All-American team can be seen here.
