The media members who selected the All-ACC teams either offered Georgia Tech a considerable compliment or insult, depending on one’s perspective.
Seven Yellow Jackets players were chosen All-ACC, but none were selected to the first team and four were named to the second team. By the assessment of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association voters, Tech won the Coastal Division with none of the top 26 players in the conference and four of the top 53.
“We’re one unit,” said guard Shaquille Mason, a second-team All-ACC selection. “We go out there and get to the common goal. We’re not just high on individual stuff or anything like that. We just all go out there and try to play team ball.”
Mason, B-back Zach Laskey, defensive tackle Adam Gotsis and linebacker Quayshawn Nealy were named second-team All-ACC. Wide receiver DeAndre Smelter, quarterback Justin Thomas and safety Jamal Golden were named third-team All-ACC. It’s the first time Tech hasn’t placed a team member on the ACSMA All-ACC first team (the coaches All-ACC team will be released later) since 1995.
It is peculiar timing, since the Jackets have achieved just their fourth 10-win season since 1956. However, Mason’s description of the team or variations of it have been repeated often — Tech is a team without a bona fide star. The Jackets have risen from receiving no votes in either preseason poll to No. 16 in the country with unrelenting effort and a team-first mindset.
“I don’t think anybody really takes that as a personal thing, because they know they’re getting positive reinforcement for what we’re doing together as a team,” wide receiver Darren Waller said. “I don’t know how many times I’ve said this — you’ve got to be an unselfish player to be on this team because it’s not going to be about you.”
Florida State, Tech’s opponent in Saturday’s ACC title game, placed 10 players on the first team, more than twice as many as any other team, and a league-high 17 total on the 81-member team. Duke was next with four first-teamers and nine total. Virginia had eight and Tech was fourth with its seven.
The total is nonetheless an achievement. It’s the most for Tech since 2009, although the All-ACC team expanded from two teams to three with the expansion from 12 teams to 14 in 2013. B-back Synjyn Days, offensive tackle Bryan Chamberlain, center Freddie Burden, defensive end KeShun Freeman, cornerback D.J. White and Golden (as a specialist) were named honorable mention.
Tech will be just the second team to reach the ACC title game without a first-team player, following Florida State in 2005. For whatever it’s worth, the division champion with the greater number of first-team All-ACC players has won the past five ACC titles and seven of the nine championship games.
Mason, whom coach Paul Johnson last week said was probably the best offensive lineman he has coached in his seven years at Tech, seemed the Jackets’ most likely candidate to be first-team All-ACC. He was a first-team selection last year by media and was the team’s highest-graded lineman in all of Tech’s games this season going into the Georgia game.
“It’s an honor, so I’m thankful for it,” Mason said. “First team, second team, I’m not really too big on all the individual stuff.”
Smelter’s 35 catches are tied for 26th in the conference but his 20.4 yards-per-catch average is second. Further, he has played an essential, if often unappreciated, role in the running game.
Said Waller of Smelter, “If you sit down and watch our games, you would say, ‘Well, if this guy is not the No. 1 receiver (in the ACC), he’s definitely knee deep in the conversation for that accolade.’”
A case could be made for Thomas, who lacked the gaudy passing numbers of first-teamer Jameis Winston of Florida State and second-team choice Marquise Williams of North Carolina, but still was the point man in the offense ranked No. 1 in the ACC in total offense, scoring offense, rushing offense, passing efficiency and third-down conversion rate.
Tech won’t lack for incentive against the Seminoles, but won’t turn down an opportunity to give voters a reason to think twice about their selections, particularly when matched up against the Seminoles’ array of all-conference stars.
“It’s definitely motivation,” Mason said.
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