Nwokobia, Rogers earn preseason All-ACC Honors

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Nwokobia, Rogers earn preseason All-ACC Honors; Jennings third for POTY

CHARLOTTE (The ACC/SMU) ΓÇô SMU football safety Isaiah Nwokobia and kicker Collin Rogers both claimed spots on the 2025 Preseason All-ACC Team on Thursday.

Quarterback Kevin Jennings ranked third in the race for Preseason ACC Player of the Year in a release by the conference.

Nwokobia secured a place on the Preseason All-ACC Team by garnering 86 votes from the credentialed media members who attended the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff. The Dallas native is coming off an explosive season, becoming one of two Mustangs to record 100-or-more tackles in the 2024 campaign. Nwokobia led the second-best rushing defense in program history, allowing just 100.2 yards per game on the ground. Last season, Nwokobia earned numerous honors such as First Team All-ACC and Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention.

Senior Collin Rogers received 67 votes to make the Preseason All-ACC Team. In 2024, Rogers set the program record for most made field goals in a single season with 24. He led the conference in both total points scored (124) and field goals per game (1.71). The kicker garnered multiple accolades in the postseason including All-ACC Honorable Mention, AP All-ACC Second Team and First Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America and Sports Illustrated.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was named 2025 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year with 146 first-place votes. Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King followed with nine first-place votes.

Kevin Jennings picked up five votes for ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year, placing third. The quarterback led the Mustangs to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2024. Jennings ran an elite offense, showcased by SMU's 11-3 record with a perfect 8-0 ACC regular-season mark.

The Texas native ranked in the top-25 nationally in four categories including 14th in yards per pass attempt (8.54), 18th in passing yards (3,245), 20th in passing efficiency (150.9) and 25th in passing yards per completion (13.14). The Mustangs ranked eighth in the nation in scoring offense (36.5). For his efforts in the 2024 season, Jennings was named All-ACC Third Team, DCTF All-Texas First Team and All-ACC Fourth Team by Phil Steele.

Full list of team and preseason player of the year voting below:

2025 Preseason All-ACC Football Team
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)

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)

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

2025 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year
Rank Name, Position, School
1. Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson (146)
2. Haynes King, QB, Georgia Tech (9)
3. Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU (5)
4. Carson Beck, QB, Miami (4)
Kyron Drones, QB, Virginia Tech (4)
6. Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville (3)
7. Quintayvious Hutchins, DE, Boston College (2)
CJ Bailey, QB, NC State (2)
Eli Holstein, QB, Pitt (2)
Kyle Louis, LB, Pitt (2)
Desmond Reid, RB, Pitt (2)
12. Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College (1)
Jamal Haynes, RB, Georgia Tech (1)

Votes in parentheses
183 media voters

[SMUFan]

I could see Carson Beck getting a lot of votes, if only because of his raw physical tools and his Georgia/SEC background, but Haynes King over Jennings? Lots of voters in Atlanta, I guess.

Votes aren't like a grading tool for talent, but there is no world in which the gap between Klubnick and Jennings should be anywhere near that wide.