Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was named the ACC Player and Offensive Player of the Year Wednesday morning, and Tiger defensive tackle Brian Bresee was named the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. The award winners were chosen by a media panel and the leagues head coaches. Lawrence won the Player of the Year Award on the heels of teammate running back Travis Etienne winning it two straight years. That makes Clemson the first team in ACC history to produce three straight Player of the Year Award winners.
Lawrence received 44 votes for Player of the Year and 45 for Offensive Player of the Year. Etienne finished a distant second in both categories.
Named the MVP of the ACC Football Championship Game following Clemson’s 34-10 win over Notre Dame last Saturday, Lawrence has thrown for 2,753 yards and 22 touchdowns in nine games. He leads the ACC in total offense (329.3 yards per game), passing yards per game (305.9) and pass completion percentage (.692).
Also recognized as the 2020 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, Lawrence has rushed for an additional seven touchdowns this season, including a 34-yard run for a score in the ACC Championship Game. With a 34-1 career mark, the Cartersville, Georgia, native stands as the winningest starting quarterback in Clemson history and owns the best record by an FBS starting quarterback since Division I split in 1978.
Bresee received 36 votes to beat out his teammate DE Myles Murphy, who had 18 votes, for the award. Bresee earned first-team All-ACC honors after helping the Tigers (10-1) to their sixth consecutive ACC Football Championship and a No. 2 CFP seed.
One of the leading pass rushers on a Clemson squad that ranks second in the nation with 44 quarterback sacks, Bresee has dropped opposing quarterbacks three times. He has recorded one safety while breaking up two passes and forcing one fumble. The Damascus, Maryland, native’s blocked field goal in the season opener versus Wake Forest was the Tigers’ first since the 2018 season.
Bresee and the Clemson defense rank ninth nationally in rushing defense (99.8 yards per game) and sixth in total defense (298.5 ypg).
Player of the Year
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson, 44
- Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson, 7
- Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame, 5
- Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina, 3
- Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, 3
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame, 1
- D’Eriq King, Miami, 1
Offensive Player of the Year
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson, 45
- Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson, 7
- Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame, 5
- Javonte Williams, RB, North Carolina, 3
- Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, 3
- D’Eriq King, QB, Miami, 1
Defensive Player of the Year
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame, 29
- Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami, 8
- Rashad Weaver, DE, Pitt, 7
- Patrick Jones II, DE, Pitt, 6
- Payton Wilson, LB, NC State, 6
- Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina, 5
- Nolan Turner, S, Clemson, 1
- Max Richardson, LB, Boston College, 1
- Carlos Basham Jr., DE, Wake Forest, 1
ACC Rookie of the Year
- Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame, 37
- Jordan Addison, WR, Pitt, 10
- Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson, 7
- Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson, 6
- Jahmyr Gibbs, RB/KR Georgia Tech, 3
- Lavel Davis, Jr., WR, Virginia, 1
Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame, 42
- Jordan Addison, WR, Pitt, 15
- Jahmyr Gibbs, RB/KR, Georgia Tech, 4
- Lavel Davis, Jr., WR, Virginia, 1
- Donavon Greene, WR/KR, Wake Forest, 1
- Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse, 1
Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson, 36
- Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson, 18
- Garrett Williams, DB, Syracuse, 6
- Nick Andersen, S, Wake Forest, 2
- Tony Grimes, DB, North Carolina, 1
- Isaiah Foskey, DE, Notre Dame, 1
