Florida St.’s Winston is ACC player of the year

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has picked up two more individual awards from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The ACC on Wednesday selected Winston as both its overall and offensive player of the year, one day after he was picked as rookie of the year.

Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald also was voted the ACC’s defensive player of the year.

Winston is the first redshirt freshman in the 61-year history of the league to win the award.

He received 47 of 65 votes from members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association for the overall award. Boston College running back Andre Williams had 13 votes and Donald had four.

Winston led the Seminoles to a No. 1 ranking and a berth in the ACC championship game opposite No. 20 Duke.

He is the first Florida State player to win the award since Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke in 2000.

Winston leads the nation with a 192.6 pass efficiency rating, is tops in the ACC with 3,490 yards passing and 35 touchdown passes and has emerged as a leading Heisman candidate.

He’s one touchdown shy of the FBS record for freshmen, set by Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford in 2007.

Florida State ranks second nationally in scoring, averaging 53.7 points. The Seminoles are seventh in total offense with an average of 526.1 total yards.

In separate offensive player of the year voting, Winston had 44 votes to 19 for Williams and two for Clemson QB Tajh Boyd.

Donald had 44 votes for the defensive award to 10 for Wake Forest nose tackle Nikita Whitlock and eight for Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner.

Donald leads the nation with 26½ tackles for losses, and has 10 sacks and four forced fumbles. His blocked extra point in the Panthers’ 17-16 win over Syracuse on Nov. 23 made them bowl eligible.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Shorewood’s Netan Ghebreamlak prepares to take a shot as Edmonds-Woodway’s Kincaid Sund defends in the Warriors’ 2-1 victory Wednesday night at Shoreline Stadium. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
E-W weathers Shorewood’s storm in battle of soccer unbeatens

Alex Plumis’ 72nd-minute goal completed the comeback as the Warriors topped the Stormrays.

Seattle Seahawks new NFL football head coach Mike Macdonald speaks during an introductory press conference, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
New coach Macdonald wants his Seahawks to forge own legacy

The pictures of iconic moments from the Pete Carroll era have been removed from Seattle’s training facility.

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, April 17

Prep roundup for Wednesday, April 17: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Karsten Sweum (10) celebrates after a run during a baseball game between Jackson and Glacier Peak at Glacier Peak High School on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. Glacier Peak won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Glacier Peak baseball blanks Jackson, 3-0

Karsten Sweum’s home run and 14 strikeouts helps the Grizzlies past the Timberwolves.

The Winnipeg Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers (27) scores on Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during the second period of their game Tuesday in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Kraken need to consider effort levels when building roster

With a playoff-less season winding down, Seattle’s players are auditioning for next season.

The Herald's Athlete of the Week poll.
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for April 8-14

The Athlete of the Week nominees for April 8-14. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, April 18

Prep roundup for Thursday, April 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, April 16

Prep roundup for Tuesday, April 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Archbishop Murphy players celebrate during a boys soccer game between Archbishop Murphy and Arlington at Arlington High School on Monday, April 15, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Archbishop Murphy routs Arlington 7-0 in boys soccer

Gabe Herrera scores a hat trick, and Zach Mohr contributes two goals for the Wildcats.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, top, forces out the Seattle Mariners’ Jorge Polanco (7) at second base and makes the throw to first for the double play against Mariners’ Ty France to end the eighth inning of Sunday’s game in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Hitting woes plague Mariners again in series loss to Cubs

Seattle ended the weekend 6-10, and the offense has been the main culprit.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith may have been a Pro Bowler, but should Seattle consider prioritizing a quarterback in the NFL draft? (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
Should Seahawks prioritize quarterback in draft?

A challenger to Geno Smith is something worth considering for Seattle.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, April 15

Prep roundup for Monday, April 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.