Uzzi named preseason All-ACC

Georgia Tech guard Omoregie Uzzi was the Yellow Jackets’ sole representative on the preseason All-ACC team, released Wednesday. Uzzi, a two-time All-ACC pick, was named on 57 of 68 ballots, second most of any offensive lineman, one fewer than Clemson center Dalton Freeman.

A-back Orwin Smith, safety Isaiah Johnson, outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, kicker Justin Moore and center Jay Finch were also among the top four vote-getters at their respective positions.

Offense

Pos. Name (Votes)                                          Ht      Wt       Class             Hometown

WR  Conner Vernon, Duke (41)                      6-2     195      Senior            Miami, Fla.

WR  Sammy Watkins, Clemson (68)                 6-1     200      Sophomore    Fort Myers, Fla.

TE    Matt Furstenburg, Maryland (35)             6-4     245      Senior            Flemington, N.J.

T      James Hurst, North Carolina (48)             6-7     300      Junior            Plainfield, Ind.

T      Oday Aboushi, Virginia (29)                    6-6     310      Senior            Brooklyn, N.Y.

G     Omoregie Uzzi, Georgia Tech (57)          6-3     300      Senior            Lithonia, Ga.

G     Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina (55)     6-3     295      Senior            Wilmington, N.C.

C      Dalton Freeman, Clemson (58)                6-3     285      Senior            Pelion, S.C.

QB   Tajh Boyd, Clemson (29)                         6-1     225      Junior            Hampton, Va.

RB   Giovani Bernard, North Carolina (60)     5-10   205      Sophomore    Davie, Fla.

RB   Andre Ellington, Clemson (53)                5-10   190      Senior            Moncks Corner, S.C.

Defense

Pos. Name (Votes)                                          Ht      Wt       Class             Hometown

DE   Brandon Jenkins, Florida State (59)         6-3     265      Senior            Tallahassee, Fla.

DE   James Gayle, Virginia Tech (31)              6-4     250      Junior            Hampton, Va.

DT   Joe Vellano, Maryland (58)                     6-1     285      Senior            Rexford, N.Y.

DT   Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest (33)           5-11   260      Junior            Wylie, Texas

LB   Kevin Reddick, North Carolina (49)        6-3     240      Senior            New Bern, N.C.

LB   Bruce Taylor, Virginia Tech (42)             6-2     253      Senior            Riceboro, Ga.

LB   Steve Greer, Virginia (32)                        6-2     225      Senior            Solon, Ohio

CB   David Amerson, NC State (63)                6-3     194      Junior            Greensboro, N.C.

CB   Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech (25)                6-0     181      Junior            Baltimore, Md.

S      Lamarcus Joyner, Florida State (45)         5-8     204      Junior            Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

S      Earl Wolff, NC State (30)                         6-0     207      Senior            Raeford, N.C.

Specialists

Pos. Name (Votes)                                          Ht      Wt       Class             Hometown

PK   Dustin Hopkins, Florida State (54)           6-2     190      Senior            Houston, Texas

P      Dalton Botts, Miami (65)                         6-3     198      Senior            Taft, Calif.

SP    Greg Reid, Florida State (35)                   5-8     186      Senior            Valdosta, Ga.

The Voting By Position:

(Top Four in Voting Only)

Quarterback

1. Tajh Boyd, CL……………………….. 29
2. Logan Thomas, VT…………………. 16
3. EJ Manuel, FSU…………………….. 15
4. Mike Glennon, NCS……………….. 6

Running Back (Top 2)

1. Giovani Bernard, UNC……………. 60
2. Andre Ellington, CL……………….. 53
3. Orwin Smith, GT……………………. 11
4. Perry Jones, UVa……………………. 8

Wide Receiver (Top 2)

1. Sammy Watkins, CL……………….. 68*
2. Conner Vernon, DU……………….. 41
3. DeAndre Hopkins, CL…………….. 15
4. Erik Highsmith, UNC………………. 5

Tight End

1. Matt Furstenburg, MD…………….. 35
2. Nick O’Leary, FSU…………………. 16
3. Chris Pantale, BC…………………… 11
4. Colter Phillips, UVa……………….. 4

Offensive Tackle (Top 2)

1. James Hurst, UNC………………….. 48
2. Oday Aboushi, UVa……………….. 29
3. Morgan Moses, UVa………………. 28
4. Emmett Cleary, BC…………………. 18

Offensive Guard (Top 2)

1. Omoregie Uzzi, GT………………… 57
2. Jonathan Cooper, UNC…………… 55
3. R.J. Mattes, NCS……………………. 8
4. Brad Linder, UM……………………. 4

Center

1. Dalton Freeman, CL……………….. 58
2. Andrew Miller, VT…………………. 6
3. Camden Wentz, NCS………………. 3
4. Jay Finch, GT………………………… 1

Defense

Defensive End (Top  2)

1.  Brandon Jenkins, FSU…………… 59

2. James Gayle, VT…………………… 31

3.  Malliciah Goodman, CL…………. 20

4.  Bjoern Werner, FSU…………….. 12

Defensive Tackle (Top 2)

1. Joe Vellano, MD……………………. 58
2. Nikita Whitlock, WF……………….. 33
3. Everett Dawkins, FSU…………….. 22
4. Sylvester Williams, UNC…………. 13

Linebacker (Top 3)

1. Kevin Reddick, UNC……………… 49
2. Bruce Taylor, VT…………………… 42
3. Steve Greer, UVa…………………… 32
4. Jeremiah Attaochu, GT……………. 23
5. Kevin Pierre-Louis, BC…………… 19

Cornerback (Top 2)

1. David Amerson, NCS……………… 63
2. Kyle Fuller, VT……………………… 25
3. Xavier Rhodes, FSU……………….. 21
4. Greg Reid, FSU……………………… 11

Safety (Top 2)

1. Lamarcus Joyner, FSU…………….. 45
2. Earl Wolff, NCS…………………….. 30
3. Rashard Hall, CL……………………. 21
4. Isaiah Johnson, GT………………… 13

Placekicker

1. Dustin Hopkins, FSU………………. 54
2. Chandler Catanzaro, CL………….. 8
3. Casey Barth, UNC………………….. 4
4. Nate Freese, BC…………………….. 1

Justin Moore, GT…………………… 1

Punter

1. Dalton Botts, UM…………………… 65
2. Nick Ferrara, MD…………………… 2
3. Brad Craddock, MD……………….. 1

Specialist

1. Greg Reid, FSU……………………… 35
2. Sammy Watkins, CL……………….. 20
3. Michael Campanaro, WF…………. 5

T.J. Thorpe, UNC…………………… 5

*Denotes unanimous selection