Not surprisingly, the best player on the best team in the ACC has pulled in the conference’s top honor.
One day after Dabo Swinney took home honors as top coach, the Clemson head coach’s quarterback, Deshaun Watson, has been named as the ACC’s Player of the Year. Watson, likely headed to New York City in a couple of weeks as a top Heisman vote-getter, currently leads the ACC in total offense (331.6 yards per game) total touchdowns (36), passing yardage (3,223), touchdown passes (27) and passing efficiency rating (161.9).
This is the third time in the last seven years that a Tiger has received Player of the Year honors, with the true sophomore joining quarterback Tajh Boyd (2012) and running back C.J. Spiller.
Watson received 39 of the 50 first-place votes, with another nine going to Florida State running back Dalvin Cook. Duke safety Jeremy Cash, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams, who will square off with Watson in the conference championship game Saturday, each received one vote apiece.
In addition to the overall Player of the Year , Watson was also named the Offensive Player of the Year by the media.
“If you look at any championship team out there, most of them have a great quarterback and leader,” Swinney said in a statement. “That’s what we have. It’s a huge advantage when you have the best player in the nation, and I believe he is that.”