Rob Weintraub’s 2021 All-ACC Awards

NFL – The NFL Alumni Awards series has made it to its tenth year, which, sad to say, is known as the Tin Anniversary. There’s nothing malleable about these awards, my friends! I’ve had a great time capping off the NFL season over the last decade by determining who is the very best professional player from each of the Power 5 schools. It’s a great way to gauge the health of the collegiate teams, an indicator of the volatility of the pro game, and, most of all, a fun argument starter.

Today we examine the ACC, a conference that looks quite puny when Clemson takes a downturn.

BOSTON COLLEGE (19)
2012: Matt Ryan—QB Atlanta
2013: Luke Kuechly—LB Carolina
2014: Luke Kuechly—LB Carolina
2015: Luke Kuechly—LB Carolina
2016: Matt Ryan—QB Atlanta
2017: Matt Ryan—QB Atlanta
2018: Matt Ryan—QB Atlanta
2019: Matt Ryan—QB Atlanta
2020: Matt Ryan—QB Atlanta

2021: Harold Landry—LB Tennessee

It took some strong play to dethrone Ryan, which is what both Landry and Denver safety Justin Simmons provided for their teams in 2021. Landry snags the (Not Bald) Eagle Award through positional advantage. 

CLEMSON (34)
2012: C.J. Spiller—RB Buffalo
2013: Andre Ellington—RB Arizona
2014: DeAndre Hopkins—WR Houston
2015: DeAndre Hopkins—WR Houston
2016: Vic Beasley—LB Atlanta
2017: DeAndre Hopkins—WR Houston
2018: Deshaun Watson—QB Houston
2019: Deshaun Watson—QB Houston
2020: Deshaun Watson—QB Houston

2021: A.J. Terrell—CB Atlanta

Watson removed himself from the running for his fourth straight Tiger Paw, while Trevor Lawrence never showed up for the race. Three excellent wideouts not named DeAndre Hopkins—Mike Williams of the Chargers, Hunter Renfrow of the Raiders, and Tee Higgins of the Bengals—had valid claims to the trophy, but Terrell’s outstanding play at a more difficult position with not much around him stood out down in the Dirty South. 

DUKE (18)
2012: Vincent Rey—LB Cincinnati
2013: Vincent Rey—LB Cincinnati
2014: Vincent Rey—LB Cincinnati
2015: Vincent Rey—LB Cincinnati
2016: Jamison Crowder—WR Washington
2017: Ross Cockrell—CB New York Giants
2018: Matt Skura—C Baltimore
2019: Daniel Jones—QB New York Giants
2020: Daniel Jones—QB New York Giants

2021: Laken Tomlinson—G San Francisco

Danny Devil’s injuries left the door ajar for Tomlinson, who turned in a fine season in the Niners’ interior line. 

FLORIDA STATE (31)
2012: Antonio Cromartie—CB New York Jets
2013: Darnell Dockett—DT Arizona
2014: Kelvin Benjamin—WR Carolina
2015: Jameis Winston—QB Tampa Bay
2016: Devonta Freeman—RB Atlanta
2017: Jalen Ramsey—CB Jacksonville
2018: Derwin James—S Los Angeles Chargers
2019: Jameis Winston—QB Tampa Bay
2020: Jalen Ramsey—CB Los Angeles Rams

2021: Jalen Ramsey—CB Los Angeles Rams

It was a bounceback season for pro Seminoles, including Josh Sweat in Philadelphia, Derwin James in Los Angeles, and Dalvin Cook in Minnesota. But Ramsey coasted to a repeat Flaming Spear, not to mention a championship ring.

GEORGIA TECH (10)
2012: Calvin Johnson—WR Detroit
2013: Calvin Johnson—WR Detroit
2014: Demaryius Thomas—WR Denver
2015: Demaryius Thomas—WR Denver
2016: Shaq Mason—G New England
2017: Shaq Mason—G New England
2018: Shaq Mason—G New England
2019: Darren Waller—TE Oakland
2020: Darren Waller—TE Oakland

2021: Shaq Mason—G New England

Injuries hampered Waller’s shot at a three peat, while Harrison Butker wasn’t close to the top of the league’s kicking table. That let Mason slip in for his surprising fourth Bumblebee, to be renamed in honor of the late Bay Bay Thomas, who won the Tech Alumni Award in 2014-15. 

LOUISVILLE (12)
2012: Elvis Dumervil—DE Denver
2013: Elvis Dumervil—DE Baltimore
2014: Elvis Dumervil—DE Baltimore
2015: Teddy Bridgewater—QB Minnesota
2016: William Gay—CB Pittsburgh
2017: Sheldon Rankins—DT New Orleans
2018: Lamar Jackson—QB Baltimore
2019: Lamar Jackson—QB Baltimore 
2020: Lamar Jackson—QB Baltimore 

2021: Lamar Jackson—QB Baltimore 

Jax had an injury-hit and lackluster season, but he still was easily the best Card in the pro deck.

MIAMI (41)
2012: Reggie Wayne—WR Indianapolis
2013: Jimmy Graham—TE New Orleans
2014: Vince Wilfork—DT New England
2015: Greg Olsen—TE Carolina
2016: Olivier Vernon—DE New York Giants
2017: Calais Campbell—DE Jacksonville
2018: Calais Campbell—DE Jacksonville
2019: Calais Campbell—DE Jacksonville
2020: Calais Campbell—DE Baltimore

2021: Denzel Perryman—LB Las Vegas

It’s almost as if there is an unspoken agreement among pro personnel departments to sign former Canes to staff up the back end of rosters. There are a ton of alums of The U without many impact players, including Calais. Perryman at least had a strong enough season that he doesn’t have to say, “No, I’m not that Denzel” while grabbing the Ibis Award. 

NORTH CAROLINA (18)
2012: Julius Peppers—DE Chicago
2013: Robert Quinn—DE St. Louis
2014: Julius Peppers—DE Green Bay
2015: Giovani Bernard—RB Cincinnati
2016: Zach Brown—LB Buffalo
2017: Julius Peppers—DE Carolina
2018: Mitchell Trubisky—QB Chicago
2019: Robert Quinn—DE Dallas
2020: Mitchell Trubisky—QB Chicago

2021: Robert Quinn—DE Chicago

A pair of fresh faces, in the form of Chapel Hill backfield mates Michael Carter (New York Jets) and Javonte Williams (Denver) livened up the race for the Tar Heel. But Quinn’s 18.5 sacks were much too Mighty. Q went six seasons without an award but now has claimed two of the last three sky-blue trophies. 

NORTH CAROLINA STATE (22)
2012: Mario Williams—DE Buffalo
2013: Philip Rivers—QB San Diego
2014: Mario Williams—DE Buffalo
2015: Philip Rivers—QB San Diego
2016: Philip Rivers—QB San Diego
2017: Philip Rivers—QB Los Angeles Chargers
2018: Philip Rivers—QB Los Angeles Chargers
2019: Joe Thuney—OG New England
2020: Philip Rivers—QB Indianapolis

2021: Joe Thuney—OG Kansas City

Ol’ Man Rivers finally retired, leaving the path clear for Thuney, given a record contract for guards before the season, to earn the Wolfman. 

NOTRE DAME (44)
2012: Golden Tate—WR Seattle
2013: Michael Floyd—WR Arizona
2014: Zach Martin—OG Dallas
2015: Harrison Smith—S Minnesota
2016: Zach Martin—OG Dallas
2017: Harrison Smith—S Minnesota
2018: Quenton Nelson—OG Indianapolis
2019: Ronnie Stanley—T Baltimore
2020: Quenton Nelson—OG Indianapolis

2021: Zach Martin—OG Dallas

Plenty of Irish representation in the NFL, only some of it quality. Once again it came down to the two great interior linemen, Martin and Nelson, and for once Martin was the healthier player, allowing him to snag his third Leprechaun. 

PITTSBURGH (23)
2012: LeSean McCoy—RB Philadelphia
2013: LeSean McCoy—RB Philadelphia
2014: Darrelle Revis—CB New England
2015: Aaron Donald—DT St. Louis
2016: Aaron Donald—DT Los Angeles Rams
2017: Aaron Donald—DT Los Angeles Rams
2018: Aaron Donald—DT Los Angeles Rams
2019: Aaron Donald—DT Los Angeles Rams
2020: Aaron Donald—DT Los Angeles Rams

2021: Aaron Donald—DT Los Angeles Rams

Seven in a row for the future Hall-of-Famer, with a dominant Super Bowl performance thrown in as a lagniappe. The pro team in Pittsburgh is known for defense, but in Donald and Revis, the collegiate gridders in the Steel City have as good (if not the best) a tandem as any school has ever produced (if injuries had not stunted Hugh Green’s career, they would have an all-timer at all three levels). 

SYRACUSE (10)
2012: Chandler Jones—DE New England
2013: TIE—Chandler Jones—DE New England and Arthur Jones—Baltimore
2014: Chandler Jones—DE New England
2015: Chandler Jones—DE New England
2016: Chandler Jones—DE Arizona
2017: Chandler Jones—DE Arizona
2018: Chandler Jones—DE Arizona
2019: Chandler Jones—DE Arizona
2020: Justin Pugh—OG Arizona

2021: Chandler Jones—DE Arizona

Oi, Pugh—Gimme that!!! Jones rebounded from an ouchie 2020 to record double-digit sacks and one shy of double digits in Orange Awards. Last season’s trophy was more of a tangelo, frankly. 

VIRGINIA (16)
2012: Chris Long—DE St. Louis
2013: Chris Long—DE St. Louis
2014: D’Brickashaw Ferguson—OT New York Jets
2015: Brandon Albert—OT Miami
2016: Chris Long—DE New England
2017: Morgan Moses—OT Washington
2018: Brent Urban—DE Baltimore
2019: Anthony Harris—S Minnesota
2020: Morgan Moses—OT Washington

2021: Morgan Moses—OT New York Jets

The Wahoo Trophy came down to a pair of Jets, of all things. Moses tips out corner Bryce Hall due to position advantage and slightly more consistent play.

VIRGINIA TECH (20)
2012: Brandon Flowers—CB Kansas City
2013: Jason Worrilds—LB Pittsburgh
2014: Kam Chancellor—S Seattle
2015: Duane Brown—OT Houston
2016: Kam Chancellor—S Seattle
2017: Tyrod Taylor—QB Buffalo
2018: Kyle Fuller—CB Chicago
2019: Tremaine Edmunds—LB Buffalo
2020: Wyatt Teller—OG Cleveland

2021: Wyatt Teller—OG Cleveland

Once again the Lake Erie battle for the Hokie Trophy goes to the lineman, Teller, over the linebacker, Edmunds. 

WAKE FOREST (17)
2012: Tyson Clabo—OT Atlanta
2013: Calvin Pace—LB New York Jets
2014: Calvin Pace—LB New York Jets
2015: Kevin Johnson—CB Houston
2016: Kevin Johnson—CB Houston
2017: Kevin Johnson—CB Houston
2018: Jessie Bates—S Cincinnati
2019: Jessie Bates—S Cincinnati
2020: Jessie Bates—S Cincinnati

2021: Jessie Bates—S Cincinnati

Bates took a small step back from last season’s dominance but he still coasted to his fourth straight Screamin’ Demon Award. Now he awaits a contract extension as a reward for earning the hardware.