Man, the 2024 ACC season was a total fever dream. If you told me back in August that SMU would waltz into the league and basically treat it like their own backyard, or that Florida State would fall off a cliff so hard they’d need a search party to find the end zone, I probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. But here we are, looking at the all acc football team 2024 and realizing the hierarchy of the conference just got a massive, much-needed shakeup.
The voting was pretty wild too. We had a tie for the most points, and some big-name programs barely squeaked anyone onto the first team. It’s not just about the stats, though. It’s about who actually changed the game. Honestly, the list tells the story of a conference that’s shifting away from the old "Clemson vs. The World" narrative into something much more chaotic and, frankly, way more fun to watch.
The Big Winners: Ward, Hampton, and the New Guard
When the ballots finally came in, two names sat right at the top with a perfect 207 points: Miami’s Cam Ward and North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton. Basically, every single voter agreed these guys were the gold standard.
Cam Ward was essentially a human highlight reel. He didn't just play quarterback; he operated like he was playing Madden on rookie mode. Leading the nation with 36 passing touchdowns and dragging Miami back into the national conversation? That’s how you become the first Hurricane to ever win ACC Player of the Year. He threw for over 4,123 yards and just made defenses look silly with that effortless flick of the wrist.
Then you’ve got Omarion Hampton. In a year where everyone is obsessed with the forward pass, Hampton was a throwback to pure, unadulterated power. The dude racked up 1,660 rushing yards. That's not just "good"—it’s second in the whole country. He’s basically a battering ram with a jet engine strapped to it.
The First-Team Offense (The Point Scorers)
The offensive side of the all acc football team 2024 was absolutely loaded with transfer portal wins. Look at Brashard Smith at SMU. He moves from Miami, switches to running back, and suddenly he’s a first-team lock with over 1,000 yards.
💡 You might also like: Cómo entender la tabla de Copa Oro y por qué los puntos no siempre cuentan la historia completa
- QB: Cam Ward, Miami
- RB: Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
- RB: Brashard Smith, SMU
- WR: Xavier Restrepo, Miami (205 points—almost a consensus pick)
- WR: Ja’Corey Brooks, Louisville
- WR: Antonio Williams, Clemson
- TE: Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden II deserves a shoutout here. Coming back from injury to grab that first-team spot is no joke. He’s essentially a wide receiver in a tight end’s body, and Kyle McCord (who made the second team, by the way) fed him the ball like his life depended on it.
Defense and Specialists: Where the Grit Lives
You can’t talk about the 2024 season without mentioning Donovan Ezeiruaku at Boston College. The guy was a one-man wrecking crew. He ended up with 16.5 sacks, which is just insane. He and Virginia Tech’s Antwaun Powell-Ryland (169 points) were the clear-cut alphas on the defensive line.
If you like defensive back play, Nohl Williams at Cal was the guy to watch. He led the nation in interceptions for a good chunk of the year. Cal’s first year in the ACC could have been a disaster, but players like Williams and linebacker Teddye Buchanan (another first-teamer) proved the "Bears go East" experiment actually had some teeth.
Defensive First-Teamers
The linebackers were particularly interesting this year. Kyle Louis from Pitt—who some call "The Shark"—was everywhere. He had that knack for being in the backfield before the handoff even happened. Along with Barrett Carter from Clemson and Buchanan, they formed a trio that nobody wanted to run against.
- DE: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
- DE: Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech
- DT: Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
- DT: Simeon Barrow, Jr., Miami & Jared Harrison-Hunte, SMU (A rare tie!)
- LB: Kyle Louis, Pitt
- LB: Barrett Carter, Clemson
- LB: Teddye Buchanan, California
- CB: Nohl Williams, California
- CB: Chandler Rivers, Duke
What the Numbers Tell Us (And What They Don't)
Clemson actually led the whole conference with 10 total selections across the three teams. But here’s the kicker: they only had one guy on the first-team offense and one on the first-team defense. It shows that while Dabo still has a roster full of "B+" and "A-" talent, the "A+" superstars are being found in places like Coral Gables and Dallas now.
📖 Related: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
SMU’s debut was nothing short of legendary. To come into a Power Four conference and land eight players on the All-ACC teams (including three on the first team) is unheard of. Isaiah Nwokobia at safety was a massive part of why their defense didn't just survive the jump—it thrived.
The Specialist Secret Sauce
We have to talk about Alex Mastromanno. The Florida State punter was probably the busiest man in Tallahassee. He averaged nearly 48 yards per punt and was one of the few bright spots in a season that FSU fans would rather forget. He was an easy first-team choice.
And then there's Desmond Reid from Pitt. He made the first team as an All-Purpose player and the second team as a specialist. That’s just greedy, honestly. But when you’re as electric as he is, the voters couldn't ignore him.
Why These Picks Matter for the NFL Draft
A lot of these guys aren't just college stars; they’re Sunday players. Cam Ward’s stock went from "maybe a mid-round flyer" to "potential top-10 pick" because of his 2024 tape. NFL scouts are drooling over his ability to create something out of nothing.
Omarion Hampton is also looking like a high-round lock. In a league that’s increasingly looking for versatile backs, his 4.46 speed at 220 pounds makes him a prototype. Then you have guys like Mansoor Delane from Virginia Tech (third team) and Quincy Riley from Louisville (second team) who might go higher in the draft than their All-ACC status suggests because of their measurable traits.
👉 See also: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
The Snubs and Surprises
Every year, someone gets robbed. Honestly, I thought Cade Klubnik deserved a bit more love. He made Honorable Mention, but he was a huge reason Clemson even made it to the ACC Championship game. He threw 28 touchdowns and finally looked like the five-star recruit everyone expected him to be.
Also, look at the Duke Blue Devils. They landed eight players on these teams. Under a first-year coach in Manny Diaz, they built a defense that was top-tier. Chandler Rivers at corner is a stud, and Terry Moore at safety (second team) played way above his "scouting" grade.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking ahead to what this means for the future of the conference, keep these takeaways in mind:
- The Portal is King: Miami and SMU proved that you can buy—or recruit—an elite roster overnight. Expect even more aggressive portal hunting next cycle.
- The North-South Divide: Schools like BC and Syracuse are finding their identity with "under-recruited" stars who play with a massive chip on their shoulder.
- Keep an eye on SMU: They aren't a one-hit wonder. Their NIL backing and the way they've adapted to the ACC speed suggests they are here to stay at the top of the standings.
If you want to keep track of where these guys end up, start following the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine invites. Most of the first-team all acc football team 2024 will be there. It was a hell of a year for the Atlantic Coast Conference, even if half the teams are nowhere near the Atlantic.
Next Steps for You:
If you're looking to dive deeper into the individual performances, you should check out the final ACC stat leaders to see how the Honorable Mentions stacked up against the First Teamers. You might find that the gap between a Second Team QB like Kyle McCord and a First Teamer like Cam Ward was closer than the voting suggests.