The ACC has had its fair share of ups and downs to start the 2018 college football season. From an opening game loss on the national spotlight from Miami (to LSU) and Louisville (to Alabama), the ACC was deemed Clemson's to lose after Week 1. Still, impressive performances have been plentiful and some surprise stars have begun to shine brightly.
QB Ryan Finley has led the NC State Wolfpack to an undefeated start as he is one of the conference's biggest stars through the first half of the season.
The PFF Midseason All-ACC Team is brought to you by Eckrich, the Official Smoked Sausage of the College Football Playoff.
Headlined by Finley and some strong defensive players, here are the Midseason All-Conference players at every position:
Quarterback
Ryan Finley, NC State
2018 Season Grade: 92.5
The ACC's top-graded passer is also the top-graded player overall as Finley has pushed NC State to a 5-0 start. He hasn't let pressure affect him much, fielding the ACC's top passer rating under duress at 99.2.
Running Back
Travis Etienne, Clemson
2018 Season Grade: 86.4
Etienne was selected to our Midseason All-American Team on the heels of his 23 runs of at least 10 yards, which are the most in the conference. He averages a healthy 4.08 yards after contact per rush this season.
Running Back
AJ Dillon, Boston College
2018 Season Grade: 73.8
Dillon is second in total rushing yards in the conference this season and despite injuries here and there, still is tied with Etienne with 25 missed tackles forced on carries.
Wide Receiver
Kelvin Harmon, NC State
2018 Season Grade: 82.6
One half of the NC State receiving duo represented here, Harmon has brought down 33 receptions this season as 26 of them have either moved the chains for a first down or been a touchdown.
Wide Receiver
Jakobi Meyers, NC State
2018 Season Grade: 80.2
Meyers joins his teammate here on the back of four missed tackles after the catch and another 17 first downs on his 30 receptions.
Wide Receiver
Jeff Thomas, Miami
Week 7 overall grade: 79.3
Thomas has been dynamic when targeted, averaging 23.6 yards per catch and gaining 5.8 yards after the catch per reception. He's had just 20 of his 30 total targets be deemed catchable so with better accuracy, could see even bigger numbers this season.
Tight End
Brevin Jordan, Miami
Week 7 overall grade: 63.2
Jordan leads conference tight ends with four touchdowns and 208 receiving yards as he's impressively racked up 130 yards after the catch this season.
Offensive Tackle
William Sweet, UNC
Week 7 overall grade: 77.4
Sweet is the conference's top-graded offensive tackle has impressed mainly in pass protection. On 199 pass-blocking snaps, he has allowed just five hurries and no sacks or hits.
Offensive Guard
Terronne Prescod, NC State
Week 7 overall grade: 89.5
Prescod may be the ACC's best offensive lineman this season and also may be the most well-rounded. He holds the conference-best 90.6 run-blocking grade and the second-best pass-blocking grade (90.5) among any position.
Center
Garrett Bradbury, NC State
Week 7 overall grade: 86.0
The NC State offensive line is making their claim for best in the nation and Bradbury is certainly part of that. The highest-graded center by a mile in the ACC, Bradbury also was named to our Midseason All-American Team earlier this week.
Offensive Guard
Connor Dintino, Pittsburgh
Week 7 overall grade: 78.3
Dintino has done his best work in pass protection, allowing just two total pressures on his 188 pass-blocking snaps. No slouch in run-blocking either, he has also fielded a 77.6 run-block grade, third among guards.
Offensive Tackle
Mekhi Becton, Louisville
Week 7 overall grade: 73.9
Improving on his solid debut season a year ago, Becton has been a shining light on a dismal season for Louisville. While he has allowed 15 total pressures this season, he's impressed in run-blocking, currently holding the conference's highest run-blocking grade (73.6) among tackles.
Defense
Edge Defender
Zach Allen, Boston College
Week 7 overall grade: 89.8
Speaking of Midseason All-American team, Allen found his way on that list on the heels of an impressive start to 2018. He leads the conference with 13 combined sacks and hits leading to 32 total QB pressures.
Edge Defender
Brian Burns, FSU
Week 7 overall grade: 88.4
Burns actually leads all FBS edge defenders this season with 39 total QB pressures. He has accumulated five sacks, two hits and 32 additional hurries on 247 pass-rushes while he's also recorded 20 total tackles and just one missed tackle this season.
Interior Defensive Lineman
Christian Wilkins, Clemson
Week 7 overall grade: 90.5
Wilkins joins his teammate here, impressing in run defense once again this year. He has recorded 17 total defensive stops, 15 of which have come against the run, good enough for the highest 14.6% run-stop percentage.
Interior Defensive Lineman
Dexter Lawrence, Clemson
Week 7 overall grade: 84.7
Opposite his teammate Wilkins, Lawrence is tied for sixth in the conference with 15 total QB pressures, doing so on just 92 pass-rushes. He may not have the sack totals of others, but he's racked up five QB hits to lead the conference's interior defensive linemen.
Linebacker
Germaine Pratt, NC State
Week 7 overall grade: 86.6
The lifeblood of the NC State defense, Pratt has been strong in all facets of play at linebacker. He has recorded 11 pressures on 31 blitzes, 19 total defensive stops and has not allowed a touchdown in coverage.
Linebacker
Tre Lamar, Clemson
Week 7 overall grade: 82.5
Lamar has exceeded expectations against the run this season, Lamar has brought down 18 defensive stops against the run. His 15.3% run-stop percentage is second among linebackers and has also allowed only 29 yards after the catch on 84 snaps in coverage.
Linebacker
Shaquille Quarterman, Miami
Week 7 overall grade: 82.1
Quarterman and the Miami defense has been stingy all season long despite the disappointing loss to Virginia last week. Quarterman holds the conference's top pass-rushing grade among linebackers, leading the way also with 15 pressures (five sacks, five hits, five hurries) despite only 29 pass-rushes.
Cornerback
Hamp Cheevers, Boston College
Week 7 overall grade: 88.5
Joining our Midseason All-American Team, Cheevers has exploded onto the scene this year. Despite a touchdown allowed, he has made eight total plays on the ball (four interceptions, four pass breakups), limited receivers to just 58 yards after the catch and allowed just a 20.3 passer rating on 40 throws into his coverage.
Cornerback
Trajan Bandy, Miami
Week 7 overall grade: 85.4
Bandy is second in the conference in both coverage grade and overall grade at the cornerback position, recording three interceptions on just 14 targeted passes.
Safety
Joey Blount, Virginia
Week 7 overall grade: 85.0
Blount put forth maybe the best game from a safety in the ACC this season against Miami, registering an interception and two pass breakups. It put the exclamation point on a stellar first half of the season in which he has now allowed just eight yards after the catch on 15 targeted passes, not given up a touchdown and made two interceptions and three pass breakups in coverage.
Safety
Will Harris, Boston College
Week 7 overall grade: 83.7
Outside of a 70-yard touchdown given up in coverage, Harris has allowed just eight other receptions for 101 yards (30 after the catch) and made an interception and pass breakup this season.
Flex Defense
Jaquan Johnson, Miami
Week 7 overall grade: 81.9
Rounding into form after missing time in the middle of the first half of the season, Johnson has been impressive in coverage (a long reception allowed of nine yards), but maybe even more so with his tackling skills as he's made 30 solo tackles while missing just one.
Second Team
QB – Daniel Jones, Duke
RB – Deejay Dallas, Miami
RB – Qadree Ollison, Pittsburgh
WR – Greg Dortch, Wake Forest
WR – Damon Hazelton, Virginia Tech
WR – T.J. Rahming, Duke
TE – Tommy Sweeney, Boston College
OT – Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson
OG – Chris Lindstrom, Boston College
C – Tyler Gauthier, Miami
OG – Mike Herndon, Pittsburgh
OT – Navaughn Donaldson, Miami
Edge – Joe Jackson, Miami
Edge – Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
DI – Marvin Wilson, FSU
DI – Gerald Willis, Miami
LB – Michael Pinckney, Miami
LB – Andrew Armstrong, Syracuse
LB – Dontavious Jackson, FSU
CB – Michael Carter II, Duke
CB – Bryce Hall, Virginia
S – Tanner Muse, Clemson
S – Romeo Finley, Miami
FLEX – Taj-Amir Torres, Boston College
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