Ten From Pack Football Named to Athlon Sports’ ACC Preseason Team
5/20/2021 2:55:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State is well represented on Athlon Sports' 2021 preseason All-ACC team, with four players on offense, a pair on defense and four on specials teams.
The publication tabbed sophomore Zonovan Knight as its first-team running back, while offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu earned the nod as a lineman.
Knight, who was the Pack's leading rusher in 2020, enters his third season boasting the best career yards per carry attempt in school history at 5.49. Ekwonu was a beast on the offensive line, earning second-team all-league honors from the Associated Press at both guard and tackle while leading NC State in pancake blocks.
Center Grant Gibson, a recent graduate who played every snap of the regular season, and leading receiver Emeka Emezie are listed on the second team, while RB Ricky Person is a fourth-team choice.
On defense, LB Payton Wilson – a first-team All-ACC performer in 2020 – joins fellow linebacker Isaiah Moore as first-team preseason choices. Wilson led the ACC and ranked fourth in the FBS with 108 tackles last season, earning three ACC LB of the Week honors. He also led the Pack with 11 tackles for loss.
Moore, who graduated from NC State last week, ranked second on the Wolfpack squad and 10th in the ACC with 94 total stops
Knight was also on the first-team list as a kick returner while Thayer Thomas was listed as a first-teamer as a punt returner. Knight's career average of 26.6 yards per kick return ranks second in schoo history, while Thomas' 10.9 mark ranks seventh.
PK Christopher Dunn and punter Trenton Gill were third-team choices.
The publication tabbed sophomore Zonovan Knight as its first-team running back, while offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu earned the nod as a lineman.
Knight, who was the Pack's leading rusher in 2020, enters his third season boasting the best career yards per carry attempt in school history at 5.49. Ekwonu was a beast on the offensive line, earning second-team all-league honors from the Associated Press at both guard and tackle while leading NC State in pancake blocks.
Center Grant Gibson, a recent graduate who played every snap of the regular season, and leading receiver Emeka Emezie are listed on the second team, while RB Ricky Person is a fourth-team choice.
On defense, LB Payton Wilson – a first-team All-ACC performer in 2020 – joins fellow linebacker Isaiah Moore as first-team preseason choices. Wilson led the ACC and ranked fourth in the FBS with 108 tackles last season, earning three ACC LB of the Week honors. He also led the Pack with 11 tackles for loss.
Moore, who graduated from NC State last week, ranked second on the Wolfpack squad and 10th in the ACC with 94 total stops
Knight was also on the first-team list as a kick returner while Thayer Thomas was listed as a first-teamer as a punt returner. Knight's career average of 26.6 yards per kick return ranks second in schoo history, while Thomas' 10.9 mark ranks seventh.
PK Christopher Dunn and punter Trenton Gill were third-team choices.
Players Mentioned
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