Cam Ward was the best quarterback in the country, according to the Associated Press All-American voters, who picked many ACC players for the accolades Monday.
The Heisman finalist and quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes was named first-team All-American by the AP on Monday. Ward led the nation in touchdown passes and was top three in the country in most quarterback categories. The Hurricanes had the biggest offense in the country in terms of yards per game.
Ward’s Miami teammate, wide receiver Xavier Restrepo was one of three wideouts on the AP’s first team All-American team. Restrepo now owns school records for most receiving yards in a season and most receptions in a season.
Also on the AP first-team All-American offense was North Carolina guard Willie Lampkin.
First Team Defense
Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku was named first-team All-American on the defensive side of the ball. He led the nation in sacks with 16.5. He had 80 tackles on the season, including 21 tackles for loss.
Punter goes in on the defense category for the AP. Florida State’s Alex Mastromanno was the choice here. He led the country in punting yards with 2,710 and a 49.27 average per kick. He also dropped 30% of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and only had one punt for a touchback.
Second Team Offense
Running back Omarion Hampton of North Carolina was one of the two chosen for the position. E was second in the country in total rushing yards with 1,660. He also had 15 touchdowns.
Desmond Reid of Pitt was chosen as All-Purpose second team. He had 797 rushing yards with four touchdowns, 564 receiving yards with four touchdowns, and 148 punt return yards with a touchdown.
Second Team Defense
At linebacker on the second team is Kyle Louis from Pitt. Louis had 97 tackles on the season for the Panthers, including 16 for a loss.
Nohl Williams, the cornerback from Cal was also a second-team selection. In his second season at Cal after transferring from UNLV, Williams had 50 tackles, seven interceptions, and a forced fumble for the Bears.
Third Team Offense
Oronde Gadsden II-Tight End, Syracuse
Ryan Fitzgerald-Placekicker, Florida State
Brashard Smith-All-Purpose, SMU
Third Team Defense
Antwaun Powell-Ryland-Edge Rusher, Virginia Tech
Aeneas Peebles-Interior Lineman, Virginia Tech
Chandler Rivers-Cornerback, Duke
The AP All-American Team is the third of five certified by the National Football Foundation to be announced. The Football Writers Association of America will make its announcement on Tuesday. The Sporting News will do the same on Wednesday. And then on Thursday, the NCAA will release the list of names of players who are consensus All-Americans, having made three of the five teams.
