The AP released their 2025 All-ACC Teams today, and NC State landed 3 on the 1st Team.
Nothing shocking to see here.
The same three players earned spots on the Official All-ACC 1st Team last week: Redshirt Freshman Running Back Hollywood Smothers, Senior Tight End Justin Joly and Redshirt Senior Linebacker Caden Fordham.
First team
Offense
QB — Haynes King, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 215, R-Sr., Longview, Texas
RB — J’Mari Taylor, Virginia, 5-9, 204, Gr., Charlotte, North Carolina
RB — Hollywood Smothers, N.C. State, 5-11, 195, R-So., Charlotte, North Carolina
WR — Duce Robinson, Florida State, 6-6, 223, Jr., Phoenix
WR — Chris Bell, Louisville, 6-2, 220, Sr., Yazoo City, Mississippi
TE — Justin Joly, N.C. State, 6-3, 263, Sr., Brewster, New York
OT — Francis Mauigoa, Miami, 6-6, 335, Jr., ‘Ili’ili, American Samoa
OT — Brian Parker II, Duke, 6-5, 305, R-Jr., Cincinnati
OG — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, 6-4, 330, Sr., Royston, Georgia
OG — Logan Parr, SMU, 6-4, 318, Gr., Helotes, Texas
C — Luke Petitbon, Florida State, 6-2, 310, R-Sr., Annapolis, Maryland
PK — Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech, 6-1, 205, R-Jr., Kennedale, Texas
All-purpose — Malachi Toney, Miami, 5-11, 188, Fr., Liberty City, Florida
Defense
DE — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, 6-3, 270, Jr., Miami
DE — Akheem Mesidor, Miami, 6-3, 265, R-Sr., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DT — Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami, 6-3, 300, R-Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida
DT — Peter Woods, Clemson, 6-3, 310, Jr., Alabaster, Alabama
LB — Caden Fordham, N.C. State, 6-1, 230, Gr., Ponte Vedra, Florida
LB — Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 220, R-Jr., East Orange, New Jersey
LB — Sammy Brown, Clemson, 6-2, 235, So., Commerce, Georgia
CB — Hezekiah Masses, California, 6-1, 185, Sr., Deerfield Beach, Florida
CB — Avieon Terrell, Clemson, 5-11, 180, Jr., Atlanta
S — Nick Andersen, Wake Forest, 5-11, 197, Sr., Clifton, Virginia
S — Ahmaad Moses, SMU, 5-10, 205, Sr., Arlington, Texas
P — Jack Stonehouse, Syracuse, 6-1, 215, R-Sr., Camarillo, California
Second team
Offense
QB — Darian Mensah, Duke, 6-3, 205, R-So., San Luis Obispo, California
RB — Demond Claiborne, Wake Forest, 5-10, 195, Sr., Aylett, Virginia
RB — Nate Sheppard, Duke, 5-10, 200, Fr., Mandeville, Louisiana
WR — Malachi Toney, Miami, 5-11, 188, Fr., Liberty City, Florida
WR — Cooper Barkate, Duke, 6-1, 195, Gr., Newport Beach, California
TE — Sam Roush, Stanford, 6-5, 260, Sr., Nashville, Tennessee
OT — Blake Miller, Clemson, 6-6, 315, Gr., Strongsville, Ohio
OT — PJ Williams, SMU, 6-5, 313, R-Jr., Dickinson, Texas
OG — Anez Cooper, Miami, 6-6, 345, Sr., Pleasant Grove, Alabama
OG — Logan Taylor, Boston College, 6-7, 312, R-Sr., Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
C — Brady Wilson, Virginia, 6-2, 298, Gr., Spanish Fort, Alabama
PK — Trey Butkowski, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 170, Fr., Orlando, Florida
All-purpose — Jacob De Jesus, California, 5-7, 170, Sr., Manteca, California
Defense
DE — Isaiah Smith, SMU, 6-4, 248, Sr., Washington, District of Columbia
DE — Melkart Abou Jaoude, North Carolina, 6-5, 260, R-Jr., Newton, New Jersey
DT — Jordan van den Berg, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 310, R-Sr., Johannesburg, South Africa
DT — Rene Konga, Louisville, 6-4, 300, R-Sr., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
LB — Cade Uluave, California, 6-1, 235, Jr., South Jordan Utah
LB – Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 220, Jr., Columbus, Ohio
LB — Matt Rose, Stanford, 6-2, 230, R-Jr., Brecksville, Ohio
CB — Keionte Scott, Miami, 6-0, 195, R-Sr., San Diego
CB — Chandler Rivers, Duke, 5-10, 185, Sr., Beaumont, Texas
S — Jakobe Thomas, Miami, 6-2, 200, R-Sr., Tullahoma, Tennessee
S — (tie) Ricardo Jones, Clemson, 6-2, 195, So., Warner Robins, Georgia; Earl Little Jr., Florida State, 6-1, 199, R-Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida
P — Daniel Sparks, Virginia, 6-6, 217, Gr., Gadsden, Alabama
(AP)
Joly finished the regular season with 47 receptions for 468 yards and 7 touchdowns. His 7 touchdowns are tied for the most by a Power 4 Tight End, and his 47 receptions rank 4th. Joly set a new school record for touchdown receptions by a Tight End. He leads the team in receptions and touchdown receptions, and ranks 2nd in receiving yards.
Joly is the highest graded receiving Tight End in the ACC according to PFF (76.8).
I made the case that Joly is the best Tight End in NC State history.
Smothers has rushed for 939 yards and 6 touchdowns in 11 games, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He also has 37 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown. Smothers’ 37 receptions rank 3rd on the team.
Heading into bowl season, Smothers ranks 3rd in the ACC in rushing yards. He trails UVA’s J’Mari Taylor, the ACC leader, by 123 yards. It’s worth noting that the two players ahead of Smothers have played two more games.
The last time an NC State Running Back rushed for 939 yards in a season was. back in 2018, when Reggie Gallaspy II rushed for 1,091 yards.
Smothers has made history in the NC State record books in only two years in Raleigh.
Fordham finished the regular season with 130 tackles, which leads the ACC. He also leads all Power 4 players, and ranks 5th nationally. Fordham also leads the Pack in tackles for loss (8.5), and is tied for the lead in sacks (3.5).
Fordham received more points in the voting than any other defensive player in the ACC.
If Fordham can pick up 8 tackles in NC State’s bowl game, he will tie Payton Wilson’s total of 138 in 2023.
Fordham is 1 of 15 semifinalists for the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
