No UNC Players Selected To Preseason All-ACC Team

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — None of the four players North Carolina nominated were selected to the preseason All-ACC team, as the league released the team on Thursday. UNC was one of seven teams to not see a player make the list.

UNC placed offensive linemen Austin Blaske and Christo Kelly, linebacker Andrew Simpson and cornerback Thad Dixon on this year’s ballot.

Blaske, entering his sixth season of college football, started at center in each of his regular season appearances, only missing the team’s game against North Carolina Central in Week 3 with a lower-body injury. Blaske played 737 offensive snaps for North Carolina in the 2024 regular season. Pro Football Focus gave Blaske a pass-block grade of 85.6 — the second-highest on the team behind Willie Lampkin — and a run-block grade of 60.7. Blaske was listed at guard on the preseason All-ACC ballots.

Kelly was the first transfer to sign with the Tar Heels after Bill Belichick’s hire. He was named to the All-Patriot League Football First Team after logging 778 snaps as the starting center and team captain, and he’s started 22 games at center across the last two seasons for Holy Cross. Kelly was listed at center on the ballots for the preseason All-ACC teams.

Simpson played four years at Boise State and started in 25 of his 40 career games for the Broncos. Last season as a redshirt junior, Simpson recorded 45 total tackles, three sacks, and an interception. His three forced fumbles were tied for the most in the Mountain West.

Simpson was also named to the Dick Butkus Award Preseason Watch List on Wednesday, an award given to the country’s best linebacker.

Dixon impressed during spring practice for North Carolina. The redshirt-senior cornerback spent his first two college seasons at Long Beach City College before transferring to Washington. He appeared in 27 of Washington’s 28 games over two years with 13 starts (12 this season). Dixon concluded his Husky career with 69 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and a pair of interceptions. According to PFF, Dixon played 715 snaps at cornerback in 2024, leading the Washington defense in pass breakups (10). 

The Tar Heels were picked to finish eighth out of 17 teams in the ACC in the media’s preseason voting. North Carolina kicks the season off Labor Day night vs. TCU at 8 p.m. for Belichick’s first game as UNC’s head coach.

UNC added 38 players through the transfer portal as well as 31 freshmen.

“We have a long way to go,” Belichick said last week at ACC Kickoff. “We’ve got a lot of new players, so we’ll see what happens when we get out there and start. I’m excited to see them play. They’ve worked hard and they’re in good condition. And I think they’re excited and they’re ready to go. So we’ll see where it takes us.

“I feel like our team is going to be ready to start practice. We’ve obviously got a long way to go with 70 new players — 40 transfers, 30 freshmen. So we’ve got a lot of new faces, but it’s all coming together.”

2025 All-ACC Preseason Football Team

Offense
QB: Cade Klubnik, Clemson (148)
RB: Isaac Brown, Louisville (99)
RB: Jamal Haynes, Georgia Tech (85)
WR: Antonio Williams, Clemson (143)
WR: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (66)
WR: Chris Bell, Louisville (51)
TE: Justin Joly, NC State (92)
AP: Desmond Reid, Pitt (73)
OT: Francis Mauigoa, Miami (99)
OT: Blake Miller, Clemson (99)
OG: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech (93)
OG: Walker Parks, Clemson (51)
C: Ryan Linthicum, Clemson (44)

Defense
DE: T.J. Parker, Clemson (152)
DE: Rueben Bain, Jr., Miami (92)
DT: Peter Woods, Clemson (142)
DT: Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State (56)
LB: Kyle Louis, Pitt (98)
LB: Wade Woodaz, Clemson (77)
LB: Sammy Brown, Clemson (76)
CB: Avieon Terrell, Clemson (129)
CB: Chandler Rivers, Duke (106)
S: Isaiah Nwokobia, SMU (86)
S: Terry Moore, Duke (81)

Specialists
PK: Collin Rogers, SMU (67)
P: Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse (70)
SP: Desmond Reid, Pitt (68)