Every ACC Football Team's Best Player in 2022

Predicting the best player on every football team in the ACC for the 2022 season

Matt Newton | Jul 19, 2022

In this story:

Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Sam Hartman (10) holds up the MVP trophy after the game Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights faced each other in the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Wake Forest defeated Rutgers 38-10. — Courtesy of Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union

Kickoff of the 2022 college football season is less than 40 days away.

This is an important year for the ACC, as the conference hopes to get a team back in the College Football Playoff after missing out in 2021. It also marks the final season of divisions for the ACC, as the conference will do away with the Atlantic and Coastal divisions in favor of a new scheduling model, which will take effect in the 2023 season.

As we march towards college football season, today we take a look at the rosters for each ACC team and take a shot at predicting who will be the best player on every ACC team in the 2022 season:

Boston College - Zay Flowers

Boston College Eagles wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) runs past Florida State Seminoles linebacker DJ Lundy (46) during the second half at Alumni Stadium. — Courtesy of Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

WR Zay Flowers

2021: 44 receptions, 746 receiving yards, 16.95 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns

2021 All-ACC Third Team, 2020 All-ACC First Team

Clemson - Tyler Davis

Clemson defensive tackle Tyler Davis (13) and teammates get fans louder before the game with Georgia Tech in Clemson, S.C., September 18, 2021. — Ken Ruinard / staff via Imagn Content Services, LLC

DT Tyler Davis

2021: 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks

2021 All-ACC First Team, 2019 All-ACC Second Team

Duke - DeWayne Carter

Duke Blue Devils defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (90) during the 1st half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Wallace Wade Stadium. — Courtesy of Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

DT DeWayne Carter

2021: 36.0 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 6 quarterback hits

2021 All-ACC Third Team

Florida State - Jammie Robinson

Florida State Seminoles defensive back Jammie Robinson (10) stops the run against North Carolina Tar Heels running back Ty Chandler (19) during the first half at Kenan Memorial Stadium. — Courtesy of James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

S Jammie Robinson

2021: 84 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 7 passes defended

2021 All-ACC First Team

Georgia Tech - Charlie Thomas

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Charlie Thomas (25) signals turnover against the Clemson Tigers during the second half at Memorial Stadium. — Courtesy of Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports

LB Charlie Thomas

2021: 70 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes defended

2021 All-ACC Honorable Mention

Louisville - Malik Cunningham

Louisville Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunningham (3) runs the ball against the Kentucky Wildcats during the second quarter at Cardinal Stadium. Kentucky won 52-21. — Courtesy of Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

QB Malik Cunningham

2021: 209/337 (62.0%), 2,941 passing yards, 1,031 rushing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 20 rushing touchdowns

Miami - Tyler Van Dyke

Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) attempts a pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. — Courtesy of Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

QB Tyler Van Dyke

2021: 202/324 (62.3%), 2,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns

2021 ACC Rookie of the Year, 2021 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year

NC State - Devin Leary

North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Devin Leary (13) passes the ball during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. — Courtesy of Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

QB Devin Leary

2021: 283/431 (65.7%), 3,433 passing yards, 35 touchdowns

2021 All-ACC Honorable Mention, finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

North Carolina - Josh Downs

North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Josh Downs (11) catches a touchdown in the end zone as Virginia Cavaliers free safety Joey Blount (29) defends in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. — Courtesy of Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

WR Josh Downs

2021: 101 receptions, 1,335 receiving yards, 13.22 yards per catch, 102.69 yards per game, 8 touchdowns

2021 All-ACC First Team, 2021 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist

Pittsburgh - Calijah Kancey

Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (8) reacts after a defensive stop against the Massachusetts Minutemen during the first quarter at Heinz Field. — Courtesy of Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

DT Calijah Kancey

2021: 35 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, 1 forced fumble

2021 All-ACC First Team, 2021 Associated Press Third-Team All-American

Syracuse - Sean Tucker

Syracuse Orange running back Sean Tucker (34) runs with the ball against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at the Carrier Dome. — Courtesy of Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

RB Sean Tucker

2021: 246 carries, 1,496 rushing yards, 6.1 yards per rush, 12 rushing touchdowns, 20 receptions, 255 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns

2021 All-ACC First Team, 2021 AP Second-Team All-American

Virginia - Brennan Armstrong

Courtesy of Scott Taetsch/USA TODAY Sports

QB Brennan Armstrong

2021: 326/500 (65.2%), 4,449 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, 404.5 passing yards per game

2021 All-ACC Third Team, Pro Football Focus Honorable Mention, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist

Virginia Tech - Dax Hollifield

Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Dax Hollifield (4) celebrates after he intercepts a pass with teammates linebacker Alan Tisdale (34) and defensive back Nasir Peoples (31) during the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Lane Stadium. — Courtesy of Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

LB Dax Hollifield

2021: 92 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 1 interception, 4 quarterback hits

2021 All-ACC Honorable Mention

Wake Forest - Sam Hartman

Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman (10) is pressured in the pocket by Rutgers during the second quarter at the Gator Bowl during an NCAA College football game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021 in Jacksonville, Fla. — Courtesy of Corey Perrine /The Florida Times-Union via AP

QB Sam Hartman

2021: 299/508 (58.86%), 4,228 passing yards, 39 touchdowns, 302.0 passing yards per game

2021 All-ACC Second Team, 2021 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist

Published Jul 19, 2022

MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.