Six Canes Earn Athlon Sports All-ACC Honors
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami Hurricanes placed six individuals on the Athlon Sports Preseason ACC Football All-Conference Team. The publication revealed its 2015 team on Monday.
Sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya, sophomore running back Joe Yearby and senior safety Deon Bush highlighted this year’s squad as each were selected Second Team All-ACC. Fourth Team honorees included junior linebacker Jermaine Grace, junior cornerback Artie Burns and junior punter Justin Vogel.
Kaaya received the preseason honor after he authored one of the finest first-year campaign’s in school history, while guiding the Hurricanes to their second-consecutive bowl appearance. During his rookie campaign, Kaaya was the only true freshman quarterback in the country to throw for over 3,000 yards, 26-or-more touchdowns and 12-or-fewer interceptions.
In addition, Kaaya rewrote the Hurricanes’ freshman record book as he set the single season freshman standard for passing yards and touchdowns. This is the second preseason honor Kaaya has received in the month of June; earlier this month, he was named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Conference Team.
Yearby received his second preseason honor of the month following an impressive rookie campaign with the Orange and Green. In 2015, Yearby rushed for 509 yards on 86 carries, averaging an impressive 5.9 yards per carry. He also flashed his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, hauling in eight passes for 118 yards (14.8 yards per catch).
Bush earned All-ACC preseason honors following a breakout 2014 campaign where he posted single season career-highs in total tackles, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and interceptions. Following his junior campaign, he would go on to earn All-ACC Honorable Mention honors from both the ACC Coaches and the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).
Grace received his second preseason honor following an impressive sophomore season that saw him finish second on the team in tackles (60). He also posted three sacks and registered 6.5 tackles for loss, which tied for fourth on the team. Earlier this month, Grace was selected to the 2015 Phil Steele Preseason All-ACC team.
Burns received preseason honors following a productive sophomore season where he started 11 games and registered 40 tackles. Burns also proved to be a disruptive force on defense, as he tied for the team lead with six pass breakups.
Vogel rounded out the list of Hurricanes selected to this year’s team after he posted a breakout sophomore season in 2014. Joining the team as a walk-on, Vogel made his presence felt by dropping an incredible 42.9 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line, which ranked among the nation’s best.
He also averaged 42.8 yards per punt and 62.1 yards on kickoff duty. Following his sophomore season, Vogel was selected as All-ACC Third Team honoree and was tabbed as a Ray Guy Award Semifinalist.
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Athlon Sports Preseason ACC All-Conference Honorees
Second-Team Offense
QB Brad Kaaya
RB Joseph Yearby
Second-Team Defense
S Deon Bush
Fourth-Team Defense
LB Jermaine Grace
CB Artie Burns
Fourth-Team Specialists
P Justin Vogel
