Meet the USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason All-ACC football team for 2025
The Tigers lead the ACC with nine selections to our preseason all-conference team. They also boast the preseason Coach and Player of the Year in Dabo Swinney and Cade Klubnik, respectively.
Here's a look at the ACC's top offensive and defensive players entering 2025 — as well as our predicted order of finish:
Offense
Quarterback: Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Running back: Isaac Brown, Louisville*
Running back: Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech
Wide receiver: Antonio Williams, Clemson*
Wide receiver (tie): Caullin Lacy, Louisville; Eric Rivers, Georgia Tech; Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson
Tight end: Justin Joly, N.C. State
Offensive line: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech*
Offensive line: Francis Mauigoa, Miami
Offensive line: Blake Miller, Clemson
Offensive line: Pete Nygra, Louisville
Offensive line: Brian Parker II, Duke
Defense
Defensive line: TJ Parker, Clemson*
Defensive line: Peter Woods, Clemson*
Defensive line: Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
Defensive line: Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech
Linebacker: Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh*
Linebacker: Wade Woodaz, Clemson
Linebacker: Sammy Brown, Clemson
Defensive back: Avieon Terrell, Clemson*
Defensive back: Chandler Rivers, Duke
Defensive back: Terry Moore, Duke
Defensive back: Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU
Special teams
Placekicker: Collin Rogers, SMU
Punter: Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse
All-purpose: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh
*Unanimous choice
Preseason awards
Coach of the Year: Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Player of the Year: Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Newcomer of the Year: Cade Klubnik, Clemson
Predicted order of finish
Clemson
Miami
SMU
Louisville
Georgia Tech
Duke
Florida State
Pittsburgh
Virginia Tech
N.C. State
Syracuse
North Carolina
Boston College
Virginia
Wake Forest
California
Stanford
Poll participants: Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer; Derrian Carter, Greenville News; Alexis Cubit, Louisville Courier Journal; Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat; JD McCarthy, FSU Wire; Zack Pearson, Tar Heels Wire; Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat; Anna Snyder, Fayetteville Observer; Alex Turri, Clemson Wire.
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: All-ACC preseason football team 2025 from the USA TODAY Sports Network
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Surprisingly, he did not record a rushing touchdown, so the yards led to a middling No. 14 ranking in rush FPPG, which Williams should easily be able to top this season. The Bears' offense ought to be much better with HC Ben Johnson calling plays. Chicago made multiple investments to upgrade their abysmal offensive line and added rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland to the passing game. Being in the NFC North leads to a high fireworks points total. Downside: The head coach change means another adjustment to a new system. The Lions were third in rush attempts and 16th in pass attempts last season. That's Johnson's run/pass ratio goal, so this won't be a pass-centric offense. There were times when Williams seemed to play it safe last year, which led to his throwing only six picks, thus preventing an issue where he forced passes into coverage like in college, but it is also why Williams had seven games with fewer than 10 points in 2024. 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The improvements to the ground game should augment the Broncos' passing prowess. Payton will get very creative with Evan Engram's usage in this offense, thus providing Nix with a potential matchup advantage on many occasions. Downside: The receiving corps outside of Courtland Sutton and Engram is unproven. Relying too heavily on those two could be a big issue if Engram has another injury-shortened season. Denver's rushing attack is a work in progress. Most of Nix's rushing production occurred on scramble plays, so defenses that spy him can limit his rushing yardage total, which is partially why Nix rushed for fewer than 10 yards on seven occasions last year. The three matchup categories don't offer much in terms of upside potential. Advertisement Overall: Nix has proven he is capable of QB1 production. The issue is that the competition at the QB position is incredibly fierce, and Nix has downside elements that hurt his relative value. Rate him as a reliable low-end QB1. Draft strategy: He's a seventh- or eighth-round value who will go earlier than that in many drafts. Upside: Purdy didn't quite live up to the excellence of the 2023 season, where he led the league in eight standard or advanced metric categories, but he still achieved some success. He was a top 11 quarterback in total FPPG, rush FPPG and vertical FPPG. To do that in a season where the 49ers' offense dealt with major injuries is a testament to Purdy's talents. Getting Christian McCaffrey back at full strength (as early reports indicate) is a massive upgrade for this offense. The re-signing of George Kittle keeps the 49ers' pass-catching talent at a very high level. The matchup points total is unmatched. Downside: The past two years make it clear that Purdy will be hard-pressed to obtain 500 pass attempts in this offense. The same players injured last year have durability concerns that could lead to missed time this year (Brandon Aiyuk could start the season on the PUP list). The offensive line depth is lacking, so any injury could hamper this group. Purdy is one of the most interception-prone quarterbacks in the NFL. Outside of Aiyuk, the wide receivers are talented yet inconsistent. There is only one green-rated fireworks matchup all season long. Overall: When everything went well for Purdy in 2023, he ended up with a No. 6 ranking. When things didn't go so well for the 49ers in 2024, Purdy ranked 13th. This year's ranking splits the difference and places him at the border of the QB1/QB2 level. Draft strategy: The tail end of QB1s come off draft boards in Round 8. Upside: Love was one of only four QBs in the top six in vertical and stretch-vertical FPPG last year. He did this despite suffering through injuries to his knee and groin, which speaks well to his grit. The Packers' long passing could be even better this year with the addition of first-round speedster Matthew Golden. Green Bay already had the deepest roster of WR/TE talent before drafting Golden and third-round wideout Savion Williams. A healthy Love should vastly improve upon last year's dismal No. 27 ranking in QB run FPPG and a No. 16 ranking in short-pass FPPG. The vaulted matchup and fireworks points totals augur for the Packers to have many high-scoring games this year. Advertisement Downside: The free-agent signing of 325-pound Aaron Banks and drafting of 335-pound Anthony Belton show the Packers are building an offensive line to avoid those high-scoring games. A greater emphasis on power rushing could reduce Love's short-yardage passing chances, making improving upon a No. 18 ranking for passes inside the 10 more difficult. Green Bay may scale back Love's rushing ambitions to preserve his health. He's thrown 22 interceptions the past two seasons. There are five red-rated pass rush matchups on the 2025 schedule. Overall: These elements don't suggest Love will return to his No. 5 ranking from the 2023 season. However, they indicate a likely improvement over last year's No. 17 rankings in both FPPG and overall QB points, earning Love a low-end QB1 rating. Draft strategy: The fantasy community is viewing Love through a 2024 prism and thus predicting another mid-tier QB2 showing, which doesn't match his low-end QB1 ranking here, so Love can be an excellent value pick in Rounds 9-10. Upside: Prescott has a track record of fantasy scoring success, having finished in the top 10 in QB scoring in three of the past six seasons. He's only one season removed from arguably the best passing campaign of his career. The combination of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens and Jake Ferguson gives the Cowboys one of the best starting WR/TE trios in the business. The improvements in the running game should help take some coverage pressure away. HC Brian Schottenheimer indicates the Dallas offense will have a lot more motion, shifts and play-action plays, all of which can help Prescott's per-play production. Downside: Schottenheimer's dad was a run-first coach. Schottenheimer's mentor (Pete Carroll) was a run-first coach. Schottenheimer's OC (Klayton Adams) has a run-centric background. Combine that with Jerry Jones noting that Schottenheimer bit his lip regarding the Cowboys' pass-centric approach under Mike McCarthy and Dallas revamping its entire RB corps, and it overwhelmingly suggests this will be a ground-based offense. Prescott had mediocre FPPG totals in overall passing, short passing and the run game last year. Prescott has missed 26 games due to injury over the past five years, and the schedule is largely unfavorable. Overall: The Dallas management and coaching staff are wise to use a run-first approach to maximize Prescott's production while limiting his wear and tear. That's great for the team, but not fantasy managers. It drops Prescott to the high end of the QB2 tier. Draft strategy: Prescott is a prime candidate to be drafted above his projected fantasy value. He should be selected in Rounds 9-10, but will be selected earlier quite often. Advertisement Upside: Fields is one of the best rushing quarterbacks in fantasy football. Consider that his 8.9 rush FPPG mark would have ranked second at QB had he posted enough games to be listed as a qualifier. The Jets will be one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL this year. RPOs will be a big part of that, so Fields could end up with a lot of carries this year. There is even talk that New York will use Fields on the tush push play, which could result in a spike in rushing touchdowns. Garrett Wilson and rookie Mason Taylor will provide maximum production on as many as half of Fields' pass attempts. Only one quarterback has a higher matchup points total. Downside: He couldn't keep the Pittsburgh starting job because his passing prowess is unacceptable. Fields would have ranked 29th in short-pass FPPG, 30th in vertical FPPG and 34th in stretch-vertical FPPG had he played enough games to qualify. It's not as if Pittsburgh had terrible downfield targets, because Russell Wilson ranked in the top four in vertical and stretch-vertical FPPG after replacing Fields. The Jets' new offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand, is in his first year as an NFL OC. New York's offensive line can run block, but it leaves something to be desired in pass blocking. The receiving corps behind Wilson and Taylor is mediocre or worse. Overall: When a quarterback can post nearly 9 fantasy points per game on the ground, he doesn't need much passing production to be a QB1. Fields' aerial talents don't quite get him to that level, but he's just a step or so behind it. Draft strategy: The QB1 class and top of the QB2 class won't be cleared off draft boards until at least Round 9. Consider taking Fields at any point after that. Upside: Michigan has had its share of quality quarterbacks (including Tom Brady) over the years. Keep that in mind when noting McCarthy is the Wolverines' career leader in interception rate, completion percentage, pass efficiency and TD-to-INT ratio. HC Kevin O'Connell knows how to build game plans to get the most out of his quarterback's talents. The Vikings may have the most improved offensive line in the league. Few, if any, teams have a receiving trio the equal of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. McCarthy showcased some planned rush and scramble ability at Michigan, both of which will be needed in Minnesota. No team has a better fireworks point total, with nearly half of the season comprising green-rated matchups. Downside: He's essentially a rookie starter. The upgraded offensive line could be used for run blocking, considering that Minnesota now has the makings of a platoon backfield with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. O'Connell may also decide to rely on the run to help avoid what could be a considerable amount of scoreboard shootouts versus those high-octane offenses. Considering the entire interior was revamped, the offensive line could take some time to gel. Addison could end up missing time due to a possible suspension. Overall: A Minnesota quarterback has finished in the top nine in QB points in two of the past three seasons (Sam Darnold ranked ninth in 2024; Kirk Cousins ranked eighth in 2022). Since those were veterans and McCarthy is a first-year starter, this projection doesn't quite generate QB1 value, but McCarthy is just outside that tier. Advertisement Draft strategy: McCarthy could be one of the best QB value picks. He's apt to post borderline QB1 value for what should be a Round 10-11 draft pick. Upside: He didn't get on the field much until Week 6 last year, but after that, Maye showed why he was the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye ranked 13th in FPPG in Weeks 6-17 and was only 27 points away from a top-10 finish in that time frame, and he did it with a lousy offense. New England tried to make improvements this offseason. The Patriots added rookies TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams, veteran receivers Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, and a ton of offensive line talent (including a great left tackle in rookie Will Campbell). Last year's numbers show Maye can rush for over 500 yards in a full season. Josh McDaniels returning as OC is an upgrade, and the schedule is generally helpful. Downside: Maye had some of the worst fantasy passing numbers in 2024. He ranked 27th in short-pass FPPG, 32nd in vertical FPPG and 23rd in stretch-vertical FPPG. Diggs is coming off an injury and has already had a notable off-field issue. Williams is a rookie, and Hollins has caught more than 31 passes only once in seven NFL seasons. The offensive line could be in flux early on, given the personnel overhaul. HC Mike Vrabel's Tennessee teams finished higher than 30th in pass attempts once — and even then, it was 25th. This team could go the run-heavy route with Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson. Overall: Maye's fantasy value will tend to go as his rushing value goes. Vrabel and McDaniels will get full utilization of that skill set. Add that to what should be improved passing numbers (even if 'improved' is a relative term in this case), and Maye gets a mid-tier QB2 ranking. Draft strategy: He will be one of the many mid-tier QB2s taken in Rounds 10-11. Upside: Jim Harbaugh is a run-first coach, but even he wants to throw the ball more than the Chargers did last year. That's why Los Angeles drafted Tre Harris and Oronde Gadsden. The vertical game doesn't need much improvement, given that Herbert ranked second in stretch-vertical FPPG and fifth in vertical FPPG. There is developmental receiving upside on the roster with Ladd McConkey, who was good as a rookie and can be better this year, and Quentin Johnston. This offensive system helped Herbert set career lows in interceptions and interception rate. Herbert has tallied 200+ rush yards and 2+ rush touchdowns in all but one of his five NFL seasons. Downside: Harbaugh may want to call more pass plays, but he will never operate a pass-heavy offense. Even with the additions of Harris and Gadsden, this receiving corps needs a lot of improvement to get to par. The offensive line was mediocre last season and could be a work in progress this year. There are only two green-rated fireworks matchups all season, and the campaign begins with three red-rated pass rush matchups in Weeks 1-5. Advertisement Overall: A Harbaugh offense will never get a quarterback to post substantial fantasy numbers on quantity alone. Quality is required, and this offense doesn't have enough of it, so Herbert rates as a mid-tier QB2. Draft strategy: Herbert is in the ninth-to-tenth-round range this year. Upside: The Jaguars' new coaching staff is looking for a reset for Lawrence. They've got a lot to work with. Before last year, Lawrence had missed only one game in his NFL career. He's posted top-12 vertical and stretch-vertical numbers before and was just outside of those ranges in last year's debacle of a season. This offense won't use him on many planned rushes, but Lawrence is still a productive scrambler and doesn't shy away from goal-line work. Few teams can match the pass-catching talents of Brian Thomas and rookie Travis Hunter. The offensive line additions could turn a weakness into a strength (or at least no longer a weakness). Downside: Adjusting to a new offensive system requires time. Depending on how the preseason plays out, the offensive line will likely have at least two new starters and could have more changes. Hunter and Thomas have one combined NFL season between them. New OC Grant Udinski is only 29 years old and has never been a full-time OC. Lawrence has dealt with injuries for two straight years, which could be a big issue behind a revolving door offensive line. There is only one green-rated fireworks matchup all year, and the season ends with five red-rated vertical coverage matchups in Weeks 12-17. Overall: The Jaguars are going all out to build a strong offense around Lawrence. That's a long-term plus, but fantasy managers can't count on that upgrade occurring in the short term, leading to a mid-tier QB2 ranking for Lawrence. Draft strategy: There won't be much clamoring to select Lawrence, so he should be available as late as Rounds 10-11. Upside: The 24.98-point total Penix posted in Week 18 shows there is a high ceiling here if things go well. Penix was the most prolific passer in college football in his 2023 campaign at Washington, leading the nation in passing yards and passing yards per game. Penix also scored seven rushing touchdowns in two years as the Huskies quarterback, so he has a path to marginal rush production. The Falcons have above-average talent at WR/TE and return four offensive line starters, which could lead to an aerial boon since stopping Bijan Robinson will be the primary goal of most defensive coordinators. The passing matchup points total is near the league's top, giving Penix ample favorable matchup opportunities. Advertisement Downside: Kirk Cousins had these top-flight pass-catching talents last year, and he ranked 27th in stretch-vertical FPPG and 23rd in short-pass FPPG. Robinson was second in rushes inside the 10-yard line last season and is on track to mimic that trend in 2025, so Penix isn't likely to get many goal-line passing opportunities. Penix did next to nothing on the ground outside of the rushing touchdowns in college. This offense will take a similar hands-off rushing approach. Cousins is still on the roster, so he could be a relief pitcher if Penix struggles. Atlanta has the highest rush defense matchup points total, a factor that could reduce the Falcons' passing volume. Overall: He can be a high-volume passer, but this is a Bijan Robinson-centric offense. Combine that with this being Penix's first full year as a starter and the limited rush volume, and Penix is a midrange QB2. Draft strategy: Penix is rated higher here than at most outlets and is a potentially good ROI pick in Rounds 12-13. Upside: Few fantasy quarterbacks were more productive in the passing game last year. Tagovailoa ranked sixth in overall FPPG and fourth in short-pass FPPG. He has tallied strong vertical and stretch-vertical numbers in the past, making a turnaround from last year's horrible downfield passing pace (30th in vertical FPPG) possible. There may not be a more talented wide receiver combination than Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. New Miami tight end Darren Waller provides even more downfield receiving skills. HC Mike McDaniel is one of the most innovative play callers around. The high pass rush points could help Tagovailoa stretch the field vertically, as will the very high matchup points total. Downside: McDaniel switched this offense from a vertical scheme to a horizontal one because he wanted to keep Tagovailoa healthy — a major emphasis given the breadth and severity of Tua's many head injuries over the years. The Miami offensive line has as many question marks this year as last, so short passing may again be the modus operandi. The injury issue has another downside: eliminating almost all of Tagovailoa's rush value (30th in rush FPPG in 2024). Tagovailoa is one of the most fumble-prone quarterbacks. This team could fire McDaniel during the season if things go south. Overall: Unless or until Tagovailoa returns to being the great vertical passer he's been in past seasons, his fantasy value simply cannot go much higher than mid-tier QB2. Draft strategy: He'll generally move off draft boards in Rounds 11-12. Advertisement Upside: Stroud led the league in stretch-vertical FPPG in his 2023 rookie season and was third in vertical FPPG that year. Getting back to that level will be the goal for new OC Nick Caley. Stroud won't lack for a receiving corps to do this. Nico Collins was fourth in vertical PPR PPG in 2024, and Dane Brugler's 'The Beast' NFL Draft Guide indicates second-round pick Jayden Higgins' game is 'similar to what Nico Collins put on tape at Michigan.' Houston also added Christian Kirk to upgrade at slot wide receiver. Stroud will never be a great rusher, but he is capable of much more than his 1.14 rush FPPG from last season. Downside: Houston is basically starting from scratch at offensive line. There are only two returning starters in that group, and one of those players is changing positions. The Texans also have an offensive line coach whose NFL experience is limited to being a co- or assistant offensive line coach. Add that to the OC change, and this offense could take some time to get in sync. Higgins is a work in progress. Stroud didn't regress last year; he collapsed. He had the fourth-lowest stretch-vertical FPPG and was 25th in vertical FPPG. The schedule is an impediment. Overall: If the Texans were as good at the offensive line as they are at receiver, it would be easy to grant Stroud a QB1 grade. With that group in flux (or even worse), Stroud has to be rated as a low-end QB2. Draft strategy: The quality depth at the quarterback position means fantasy managers don't have to reach here. It's why Stroud should not be taken any earlier than Round 11. Upside: If the move from Cooper Kupp to Davante Adams provides the expected upgrade, the Rams' passing attack will greatly improve, maybe even enough to shift Stafford back into the top 10 in passing FPPG, a must for his fantasy starter viability. Los Angeles had quality pass-blocking numbers last year and will bring back four starters and a former starter. Sean McVay will get the most out of Puka Nacua and Adams, but he will also dial up creative plays to vertical threat Tutu Atwell and a talented tight end tandem of Tyler Higbee and rookie Terrance Ferguson. Stafford has an incredible ability to fight through injury, and the pass rush matchup points total is a notable plus. Downside: Stafford is 37 years old and has taken more than his share of hits. That wear and tear will eventually overcome his moxie to keep playing. Adams may not be much of an upgrade over Kupp. If the passing game doesn't upgrade notably, Stafford may end up with the same No. 18 ranking in pass FPPG that he had last year. That's a huge problem since he essentially adds zero on the ground. Stafford has rushed for fewer than 75 yards in six of the past seven seasons and has scored one rushing touchdown since 2016. If those pass and rush trends repeat in 2025, it could lead to another No. 27 ranking in QB FPPG for Stafford, and the matchup points total is about as low as it can get. Overall: His upside path can get to mid-tier QB2 status, but that is so reliant on the passing game that it puts Stafford at a disadvantage compared to other QB2 candidates, which is one of the main reasons Stafford ends up near the bottom of this tier. Advertisement Draft strategy: The turn from QB2 to QB3 usually hits around Rounds 11-12. Upside: Young was on a tear in the final third of the 2024 season, ranking ninth in QB FPPG in Weeks 12-18. He had three games with 23+ points during that span and five games with 16.5+ points. A big part of the late-season production surge occurred on the ground, with Young scoring five rushing touchdowns in those seven games. That ground prowess led to a No. 7 ranking in rush FPPG and echoed his Alabama rushing numbers. Getting Tetairoa McMillan, the highest-rated WR prospect in the 2025 draft, could provide an immediate pass upgrade. The offensive line returns all five starters, boding well for quality pass blocking when combined with the favorable pass rush points total. Downside: Young is one of the smallest quarterbacks in the NFL, listed at 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds. Last year was the second consecutive season that Young had dismal passing numbers. He ranked 33rd in short-pass FPPG, 26th in stretch-vertical FPPG and 22nd in vertical FPPG. McMillan is a rookie, Xavier Legette looks like a bust, and Adam Thielen is old. Combine that with Carolina not possessing a quality tight end, and the Panthers' receiving corps could be mediocre or worse. There are only three green-rated fireworks matchups on the schedule. Overall: It's tough to bank on a third of a season, but Young has done enough to warrant inclusion at the bottom of the QB2 tier. Draft strategy: The end of the QB2 tier usually leaves draft boards in Rounds 11-12. Upside: One area that stood out for Rodgers last year was his stretch-vertical numbers. He ranked ninth in stretch-vertical FPPG and had as many touchdowns at that level as Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield. With the Steelers adding DK Metcalf to the receiving mix, Rodgers should be able to replicate that downfield success. Rodgers was also ninth in short-pass FPPG, showing he still has mastery of percentage passes. The combination of Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth may give Rodgers the best tight end group he's ever played with. Pittsburgh has a superb offensive line. The fireworks points total is advantageous, featuring six green-rated matchups in Weeks 7-16. Downside: The stretch-vertical production did not prevent Rodgers from tallying a No. 23 ranking in vertical FPPG, a weakness that led to Rodgers finishing outside of the top 10 in pass FPPG for the second consecutive season that he played in (No. 11 in 2024, No. 15 in 2022). His rushing production has dwindled to next to nothing. Rodgers has now posted a double-digit interception mark for consecutive seasons for the first time in his career. He's 42 and could hit the age wall at any time. This run-centric offense may give Rodgers a low pass attempts ceiling. Three red-rated fireworks matchups and a bye are in Weeks 1-6. Advertisement Overall: Rodgers tallied a high-end QB2 season last year due to New York focusing its offense on his passing skills. Mike Tomlin won't rely on his new QB for various reasons, dropping Rodgers' fantasy value to the border of the QB2/QB3 tier. Draft strategy: Do not draft outside of 2QB/SuperFlex leagues. (Photo of Joe Burrow: Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
