Nine Canes Named Preseason All-ACC by Athlon
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Nine Miami Hurricanes were named to Athlon Sports Preseason All-ACC Teams, including a conference-leading total of five student-athletes named to the first team, the publication announced.
Miami tied reigning national champion Clemson for the most first-team selections with five: running back Mark Walton, wide receiver Ahmmon Richards, tight end Christopher Herndon IV, kicker Michael Badgley and punt returner Braxton Berrios.
In addition to the five first-team honorees, linebacker Shaquille Quarterman (second team), offensive lineman Kc McDermott (third team) and defensive linemen Kendrick Norton (third team) and Joe Jackson (third team) were also honored.
Richards, who set the Miami freshman receiving record with 934 yards in 2016, was also named to the Preseason All-America Fourth Team by the publication. A Freshman All-America honoree last year, Richards led all freshmen nationally in receiving yards and totaled the sixth-most receiving yards in a single season in Miami history.
Badgley, who picked up his second All-ACC third-team recognition a season ago, connected on 21 of 26 field goal attempts in 2016. Badgley moved into third place in Miami history in career field goals made last season with 60 successful kicks.
Berrios ranked 11th nationwide in punt return average last year, totaling 215 return yards on 19 returns for an average of 11.3 yards. Berrios also added 178 receiving yards on 12 receptions, and registered a team-best 75 all-purpose yards in Miami’s Russell Athletic Bowl victory over West Virginia.
Herndon made 12 starts as a junior a season ago, finishing with 28 receptions for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Herndon has made 15 starts and played in 29 games in three seasons at Miami, with career totals of 571 yards and three touchdowns.
Walton led the Hurricanes with 1,117 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns as a sophomore, earning third-team All-ACC recognition after a standout campaign. In just two seasons at Miami, Walton has compiled 1,578 rushing yards, over 2,400 all-purpose yards and 25 total touchdowns.
Quarterman, who was named a Freshman All-American in 2016 by ESPN, 247Sports and Pro Football Focus, started all 13 games last year and ranked second on the team with 84 tackles. Quarterman was named a third-team All-ACC selection by ACC coaches following an impressive freshman campaign.
One of Miami’s top returning lineman, McDermott started all 13 games a season ago, including the final four games of the season at left tackle. He has 21 career starts in his three seasons, and helped lead Miami’s offense to a 425.9 yards-per-game average in 2016.
Norton was a force for Miami on the interior defensive line a year ago, starting all 13 games and earning third-team All-ACC recognition. He ranked seventh on the team and second among defensive linemen with 39 total tackles, and finished with 10.0 tackles for loss including 2.0 sacks.
Another player who delivered an impressive freshman season, Jackson led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (8.5) in his first year with the Hurricanes. Jackson finished with 32 tackles, saw action in all 13 games and made two starts in 2016.
The Hurricanes return 18 starters from last year’s squad that finished 9-4, winning its final five games, capturing its first bowl win in 10 years and finishing the year ranked in the AP and Amway Coaches Polls for the first time since 2009.
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