Florida State is the popular choice to win the ACC, so it comes as little surprise to see ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit go with the Seminoles as his choice as well.
Herbstreit unveils his Herbie Awards tonight at 7 on ESPN but we got a little sneak peek this afternoon. There are plenty of ACC players featured prominently.
Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas is Herbstreit's choice to win ACC player of the year; and Thomas is also listed as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback. A Florida State duo makes the list for game-changing defensive ends: Brandon Jenkins is ranked No. 2, while Bjoern Werner is ranked No. 5.
Kevin Reddick, set for a more productive year getting after the quarterback at North Carolina, is Herbstreit's top choice at inside linebacker. No surprise here: NC State's David Amerson tops the list of cornerbacks, with Xavier Rhodes of Florida State right behind at No. 2. Though folks in ACC country know all about Amerson, Herbstreit ranks him as the No. 1 player in the country in search of more respect. Werner checks in at No. 5 in that category, also known as "Rodney Dangerfields."
Clemson's Sammy Watkins checks in at No. 4 among the most exciting players in the nation.
How about a best kept secret? North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard ranks No. 2 in the category. Virginia Tech's Kyle Fuller leads the way on the "Don't Turn your Back: Backyard Football" list. Virginia Tech running back Michael Holmes is also No. 3 in the "Ahead of the Curve" category.
And who made the All-Herbie team? Thomas is on at quarterback; Rhodes and Fuller at cornerback; and Virginia's Oday Aboushi at tackle.