Four former ACC stars named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

As the NFL Playoffs move forward, the Pro Football Writers Association begins announcing its regular season honors for 2021. The first list included the best of this year’s rookie class, which saw four former ACC stars headline the prestigious PFWA All-Rookie team.

Broken down by conference, the SEC led with 10 PFWA All-Rookie selections, followed by the Big Ten with six. The ACC and Pac-12 tied with four each and the Big 12 had the remaining three. No players from outside the Power Five were selected to the 2021 honors. Alabama’s five representatives would tie for second among conferences if separated from the SEC.

The ACC was represented well by former North Carolina running back Javonte Williams on the PFWA All-Rookie offense, who spent his rookie season splitting time in the Denver Broncos backfield. On defense, former five-star recruit and Miami star Jaelan Phillips emerged within the Miami Dolphins defense as a top pass rusher. Gaining the conference representation in all three phases of the game, former Georgia Tech punter Pressley Harvin III played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was the lowest drafted rookie to make the list.

The fourth and final ACC representative is one who would not previously fit into the category, but thanks to the unconventional 2020 college football season, he owns an ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. Former Notre Dame linebacker and second round pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah made an immediate impact with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.

2021 Rookie of the Year awards

Rookie of the Year – Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys

2021 PFWA All-Rookie Team

Offense

QB – Mac Jones, New England Patriots (Alabama)

RB – Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers (Alabama)

RB – Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (North Carolina)

WR – Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals (LSU)

WR – Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (Alabama)

TE – Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (Florida)

T – Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers (Northwestern)

T – Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions (Oregon)

G – Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (Tennessee)

G – Alijah Vera-Tucker, New York Jets (USC)

C – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs (Oklahoma)

Defense

DL – Christian Barmore, New England Patriots (Alabama)

DL – Odafe Oweh, Baltimore Ravens (Penn State)

DL – Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts (Michigan)

DL – Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins (Miami)

LB – Nick Bolton, Kansas City Chiefs (Missouri)

LB – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns (Notre Dame)

LB – Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys (Penn State)

CB – Greg Newsome II, Cleveland Browns (Northwestern)

CB – Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos (Alabama)

S – Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins (Oregon)

S – Tre’Von Moehrig, Las Vegas Raiders (TCU)

Special Teams

K – Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals (Florida)

P – Pressley Harvin III, Pittsburgh Steelers (Georgia Tech)

KR – Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota Vikings (Iowa State)

PR – Demetric Felton, Cleveland Browns (UCLA)

ST – Nick Niemann, Los Angeles Chargers (Iowa)