GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Boston College freshman running back AJ Dillon has been voted the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Football Rookie of the Year, and Virginia free safety Brenton Nelson earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Dillon, who also received the nod as ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, was selected as the league’s top overall first-year player by 47 voters on a select panel of 45 media members and the league’s 14 head coaches.
A native of New London, Connecticut, Dillon has rushed for 1,432 yards, the second-most by any freshman in ACC history. Dillon ranks second among all freshmen nationally this season in rushing and 15th among all players. He already holds the Boston College freshman rushing record heading into the Eagles’ postseason bowl game and is tied for sixth in school single-season history in rushing.
Dillon is just the second freshman in ACC history to post two 200-yard games in his first season. Dillon was named the National Player of the Week following Boston College’s road win at Louisville, where he carried 39 times for 272 yards and four touchdowns. He earned first-team honors in the 2017 All-ACC voting, matching reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson as this year’s leading vote-getter.
Wake Forest wide receiver Greg Dortch received six votes in both the ACC overall and Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, followed by Clemson running back Travis Etienne with four votes and Virginia Tech quarterback Josh Jackson with two.
Virginia’s Nelson first joined the football program as a walk-on and worked with the practice squad in 2016. He was awarded a scholarship prior to this season and emerged as a major contributor in the defensive secondary. The Miami native, who played his final season of prep football at DeMatha Catholic near Washington, D.C., has started all 12 games this season for the bowl-bound Cavaliers.
The 5-11, 175-pound Nelson is tied for the team lead in pass interceptions with four and has also broken up six passes and recorded two tackles for loss. His 58 tackles this season, which includes 31 solo stops, rank fifth on the team. He leads all ACC freshmen in passes intercepted and total passes defended (10).
Nelson received 29 votes in the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. Clemson defensive back A.J. Terrell placed second with nine.
The voting for 2017 ACC Rookies of the Year:
2017 ACC Rookie of the Year
AJ Dillon, Boston College 47
Greg Dortch, Wake Forest 6
Travis Etienne, Clemson 4
Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech 2
2017 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year
AJ Dillon, Boston College 47
Greg Dortch, Wake Forest 6
Travis Etienne, Clemson 4
Josh Jackson, Virginia Tech 2
2017 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
Brenton Nelson, Virginia 29
A.J. Terrell, Clemson 9
Jonathan Garvin, Miami 7
Dorian Etheridge, Syracuse 7
Amari Carter, Miami 4
Rashad Weaver, Pitt 2
Tomon Fox, North Carolina 1
