Four Canes Placed on Blue Ribbon Yearbook's All-ACC Team

CORAL GABLES, Fla.– Publications and prognosticators continue to roll out preseason college football predictions and the latest has named four Canes to its All-ACC team heading into the 2011 season.

The Blue Ribbon Yearbook has listed offensive lineman Brandon Washington, defensive tackle Marcus Forston, linebacker Sean Spence and safety Ray-Ray Armstrong on its preseason all-conference team. Miami’s four representatives are tied with Virginia Tech for the most on the preseason team.

The publication also has Miami predicted to finish second in the ACC’s Coastal Division behind the Hokies and ahead of North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Duke and Virginia.

Washington – Miami’s lone offensive representative on the team – started all 13 games for the Canes at right guard as a sophomore last season. He recorded 56 pancakes, 11 lumberjacks and was named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week on two occasions (at Duke, 10/16; vs. Virginia Tech, 11/20). He has previously been named a preseason All-ACC performer by several publications and was recently named one of college football’s Top 100 players nationally by Rivals.com.

Defensively, veteran linebacker Sean Spence returns as the second-leading tackler in the ACC after recording 111 total tackles a season ago. The second-team All-ACC performer led the Canes with 16 tackles for a loss in 2010 en route to being named the team’s defensive MVP.

Armstrong ranked third on UM’s defense in tackles a season ago with 79. Playing in all 13 games and garnering four starts, he also tied for the team-lead with three interceptions.

Forston garnered 12 starts in 2010, recording 37 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, three sacks and one interception. His best performance of the season came against Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl when he recorded season-high six tackles, including three for a loss.

The Hurricanes will open their 2011 season at Maryland on Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.