July 23, 2008

• Look Back at the 2008 ACC Football Kickoff

GREENSBORO, NC - Clemson senior quarterback Cullen Harper has been selected as the Preseason ACC Football Player of the Year in voting by media attending the annual ACC Football Kickoff earlier this week at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia.

Harper, who set 21 school records and was named second-team All-ACC quarterback in 2007, received 34 votes in the balloting. His teammate, senior running back James Davis, was second, being named on 16 ballots. No other player received more than four votes.

Clemson, which was tabbed by the same media group as the pre-season choice to capture the 2008 ACC title, had four individuals on the preseason squad, as did Florida State and Wake Forest. Nine of the league's 12 schools were represented in the 25-player group.

Seven players who earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2007 were on this year's preseason team - Davis and wide receiver Aaron Kelly of Clemson, tight end Ryan Purvis of Boston College, offensive tackle Andrew Gardner and defensive tackle Vance Walker of Georgia Tech, and cornerbacks Victor Harris of Virginia Tech and Alphonso Smith of Wake Forest.

2008 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

Offense
QB - Cullen Harper, Clemson
RB - Josh Adams, Wake Forest
RB - James Davis, Clemson
WR - Aaron Kelly, Clemson
WR - Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
TE - Ryan Purvis, Boston College
T - Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech
T - Eugene Monroe, Virginia
G - Rodney Hudson, Florida State
G - Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
C - Edwin Williams, Maryland

Defense
DE - Everette Brown, Florida State
DE - Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
DT - Ron Brace, Boston College
DT - Vance Walker, Georgia Tech
LB - Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
LB - Clint Sintim, Virginia
LB - Brian Toal, Boston College
CB - Victor Harris, Virginia Tech
CB - Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
S - Michael Hamlin, Clemson
S - Myron Rolle, Florida State

Specialists
PK - Sam Swank, Wake Forest
P - Graham Gano, Florida State
RET - Brandon Tate, North Carolina

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTING TOTALS (64)
Cullen Harper - 34
James Davis - 16
C.J. Spiller - 4
Josh Adams - 2
Sean Glennon - 2
Riley Skinner - 2
Drew Weatherford - 2
Aaron Curry - 1
Victor Harris - 1