Watkins named to All-ACC first team

Florida State running back Dalvin Cook was second with nine votes, while Duke’s Cash and North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams picked up one each. He leads the ACC in each of those categories, as well as passing efficiency (161.9), and also is the league’s ninth-leading rusher with 756 yards and nine touchdowns on 139 carries.

A finalist for both the Bronco Nagurski Award (National Defensive Player of the Year) and Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back in the nation), Cash has now reached the 100-tackle plateau in three consecutive seasons and is Duke’s career leader in caused fumbles with nine.

Watson received 39 ACC Player of the Year votes from the 50 voting members of ACSMA. “I would just go out there and practice and expect to be able to make those plays come Saturdays”.

Watson becomes the third Clemson player to win Player of the Year honors in the last seven seasons, joining Tajh Boyd (2012) and C.J. Spiller (2009).

“I’ve just been staying focused and blocking out the noise and distractions”, Watson said.

Chase graduate Carlos Watkins, a junior defensive tackle at Clemson University, was named to the 2015 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team, as voted upon by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).

The Tar Heels had 14 total selections, including three players from the First Coast: Jon Heck (Bolles) at second-team offensive tackle, Lucas Crowley (Nease) at third-team center and Shakeel Rashad (Episcopal) at third-team linebacker. The senior has 101 tackles on the season and ranks among the nation’s top 10 in tackles for loss with 18.

“It’s not just me working and achieving those goals, it’s the whole team working, motivating me, pushing me”, he said.

Watson, who has led the Tigers to a 12-0 record, No. 1 ranking and spot in the ACC championship game Saturday, leads all conference players with 331.6 total yards per game and has scored 36 total touchdowns.

“The moment for me has never been too big (for me) – it’s something I’ve been dreaming and hoping for”, Watson said.