North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Football has 10 Earn All-ACC Honors
12/22/2020 9:30:00 AM | Football
DT McNeill and LB Wilson both named first-team
RALEIGH, N.C. – A total of six players from the NC State football team were placed on one of the All-ACC teams, and four additional members earned honorable mention honors.
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Alim McNeill – DL first-team
One of the most dominant nose tackles in college football - he tallied 26 tackles for the season. He had a pick six in the win at Virginia - he tipped the ball, caught it and returned it 18 yards for a score. Also caused and recovered a fumble in the season opening win.
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McNeill was also named an AP All-ACC first-team selection, and was a PFF first-team All-American selection as well.
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Payton Wilson – LB first-team
Wilson leads the ACC in both total tackles (108) and tackles per game (10.8). In the FBS, he is third in total tackles and 13th in tackles per game. His 57 solo stops are also second in the ACC, and his 11.5 tackles for loss are eighth. He was a three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week selection, including each of the Pack's last two games of the regular season.
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Wilson was also named an AP All-ACC first-team selection.
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Ikem Ekwonu – OT third-team
Followed up his freshman All-America season as a two-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week as a sophomore. He started at left guard in the first four games and then moved to left tackle for the last seven. He graded out at 90% or better twice this season, and tallied team-highs of 46 pancake blocks and 19 knockdowns.
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Ekwonu was also named an AP All-ACC second-team selection as both an offensive lineman and offensive tackle.
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Zonovan Knight – RB third-team
The Pack's leading rusher heading into the bowl game, currently ranks sixth in the ACC in all-purpose yards (110.5). He is averaging 5.62 yards per carry for the season, that is currently is the top mark in school history for a single season. Against Florida State, Knight returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score in the win. Has six rushing touchdowns over the last five games, at least one in each game of those final five games. He was named the ACC RB of the Week for the win over Liberty and the Specialist of the Week for the win over Florida State.
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Joe Sculthorpe – OG third-team
The veteran of the Pack's offensive line, he has started every game this season, splitting time between right guard and left guard. He has allowed just five sacks in 789 snaps.
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Thayer Thomas – Specialist third-team
A starting wide receiver for the Pack, Thomas also averaged 11.0 yards per punt return on his nine attempts, a mark that would lead the ACC and rank 11th nationally if he had enough attempts. He ranks second on the team with five TD receptions, and had over 100 yards receiving in two of the last four games. Thomas also threw a TD pass vs. Miami.Â
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In addition, NC State also had four players earn honorable mention honors: WR Emeka Emezie, TE Cary Angeline, LB Isaiah Moore, and PK Christopher Dunn.
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Alim McNeill – DL first-team
One of the most dominant nose tackles in college football - he tallied 26 tackles for the season. He had a pick six in the win at Virginia - he tipped the ball, caught it and returned it 18 yards for a score. Also caused and recovered a fumble in the season opening win.
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McNeill was also named an AP All-ACC first-team selection, and was a PFF first-team All-American selection as well.
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Payton Wilson – LB first-team
Wilson leads the ACC in both total tackles (108) and tackles per game (10.8). In the FBS, he is third in total tackles and 13th in tackles per game. His 57 solo stops are also second in the ACC, and his 11.5 tackles for loss are eighth. He was a three-time ACC Linebacker of the Week selection, including each of the Pack's last two games of the regular season.
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Wilson was also named an AP All-ACC first-team selection.
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Ikem Ekwonu – OT third-team
Followed up his freshman All-America season as a two-time ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week as a sophomore. He started at left guard in the first four games and then moved to left tackle for the last seven. He graded out at 90% or better twice this season, and tallied team-highs of 46 pancake blocks and 19 knockdowns.
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Ekwonu was also named an AP All-ACC second-team selection as both an offensive lineman and offensive tackle.
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Zonovan Knight – RB third-team
The Pack's leading rusher heading into the bowl game, currently ranks sixth in the ACC in all-purpose yards (110.5). He is averaging 5.62 yards per carry for the season, that is currently is the top mark in school history for a single season. Against Florida State, Knight returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score in the win. Has six rushing touchdowns over the last five games, at least one in each game of those final five games. He was named the ACC RB of the Week for the win over Liberty and the Specialist of the Week for the win over Florida State.
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Joe Sculthorpe – OG third-team
The veteran of the Pack's offensive line, he has started every game this season, splitting time between right guard and left guard. He has allowed just five sacks in 789 snaps.
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Thayer Thomas – Specialist third-team
A starting wide receiver for the Pack, Thomas also averaged 11.0 yards per punt return on his nine attempts, a mark that would lead the ACC and rank 11th nationally if he had enough attempts. He ranks second on the team with five TD receptions, and had over 100 yards receiving in two of the last four games. Thomas also threw a TD pass vs. Miami.Â
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In addition, NC State also had four players earn honorable mention honors: WR Emeka Emezie, TE Cary Angeline, LB Isaiah Moore, and PK Christopher Dunn.
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Players Mentioned
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