Only Five ACC Teams, Including Pitt, Earned Multiple Selections
PITTSBURGH – Pitt football seniors Dorian Johnson and Ejuan Price were named to the 2016 All-ACC Preseason Football Team after media voting results from last week’s ACC Kickoff in Charlotte were announced by the conferenceon Wednesday morning.
Johnson, an offensive guard from Belle Vernon, Pa., enters his final collegiate season with a 27-game start streak dating back to his freshman year. Set to start the campaign at left guard for the Panthers, Johnson has been a constant force for the Pitt rushing attack over the previous two seasons, helping James Conner win ACC Player of the Year in 2014 and Qadree Ollison take ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year and All-ACC honors in 2015.
Price, a defensive end from Rankin, Pa., returned to full health last season to have a standout campaign under new defensive coordinator Josh Conklin’s aggressive style. The Woodland Hills product started every game in 2015 after missing the previous 20 contests due to injuries, compiling 48 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one blocked kick. A first team All-ACC selection last season, Price was an unstoppable force in Pitt’s 45-34 victory over Louisville, collecting 10 tackles, six TFLs and five sacks to fall on sack shy of the national record for a single game.
Johnson led media voting for all ACC guards, gathering 107 votes, while Price finished second among league defensive ends with 102 total votes.
Pitt joined Clemson, Florida State, Louisville and North Carolina as the only programs in the conference with multiple members of the 2016 All-ACC Preseason Football Team.
Two other Panthers – senior offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty and sophomore safety Jordan Whitehead – nearly earned selection to this year’s All-ACC Preseason Football Team as well after both finished third in the voting for their respective positions.
Other Pitt football players receiving votes included sophomore running back Qadree Ollison, senior tight end Scott Orndoff, junior center Alex Officer, senior linebackers Matt Galambos and Mike Caprara, junior cornerback Avonte Maddox, senior placekicker Chris Blewitt and junior punter Ryan Winslow.
Pitt football training camp opens on Monday, August 8 as the Panthers set their sights on the season opener at Heinz Field on Saturday, September 3 against in-state opponent Villanova.
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