By: Jeff Fischel 

As we wrap up the 2010’s, we should not let old acquaintances be forgot. We should celebrate them. Here is my choice for the best player of the decade for each school in the ACC. And to answer the inevitable question before it gets asked, this accounts only for years the new members have been in the conference. 
 
Boston College: Luke Kuechly

Even if you don’t count his freshman season in 2009, there’s a good argument to be made that Kuechly was the ACC’s best defensive player of the 2010’s. Kuechly had over 100 solo tackles in both 2010 and 2011. In those two seasons, he compiled an absurd 374 total tackles. His 532 career tackles are the most in NCAA history—and he only played three years. 
 
Contenders: Zach Allen, AJ Dillon, Harold Landry, Chris Lindstrom, Andre Williams

 
Clemson: Deshaun Watson
 
Clemson has an embarrassment of riches to choose from, but Watson feels like the easy pick--even over two-time ACC Player of the Year Travis Etienne. Watson was the on-field general as the program took the leap from perennial ACC contender to perennial national title contender. In 2015, he was ACC POY and finished third in the Heisman. In 2016, he had more yards and more touchdowns, and was second in the Heisman voting. Oh, and he led the Tigers to the 2016 national championship.
 
Contenders: Vic  Beasly, Da'Quan Bowers, Tajh Boyd, Travis Etienne, DeAndre Hopkins, Trevor Lawrence, Sammy Watkins, Christian Wilkins 

 
Duke: Jamison Crowder
 
Duke football came of age this decade, and Crowder epitomizes the program’s complete upgrade in athleticism and productivity. He and former teammate Conner Vernon (who also would be a good choice) are tied for No.1 in ACC history in career receptions, but Crowder had more yards and touchdowns. If you want to make the argument for Daniel Jones, go right ahead. It’s a defensible pick. Just keep in mind that Sean Renfree had more passing yards in his three years as the starting QB than Jones did in his.
 
Contenders: Jeremy Cash, Daniel Jones, Sean Renfree, Laken Tomlinson, Conner Vernon 

 
Florida State: Jameis Winston 
 
An even easier pick than Deshaun Watson at Clemson. Winston won the Heisman, led FSU to a national title, and lost only one game in his two years as the Seminoles’ QB. Winston’s redshirt freshman season was truly remarkable. He completed 67 percent of his passes for over 4,000 yards with 40 TDs and just 10 INTs. That team set the record for most points in a season. And somehow, even as a freshman, he asserted himself as the leader on the way to the title.  
 
Contenders: Dalvin Cook, Rashad Greene, LaMarcus Joyner, Jalen Ramsey, DeMarcus Walker

 
Georgia Tech: Justin Thomas 
 
From 2014-2016, we saw Justin Thomas execute the option as well as any QB during the Paul Johnson era. The 2014 season was truly Thomas’ finest. He rushed for over 1,000 yards, and also passed for 18 TDs. Yellow Jacket fans will cherish the overtime win over Georgia more than any of those numbers. Tech then went on to win the Orange Bowl. Thomas cemented his status as a Georgia Tech all-time great in 2016 by leading a stunning fourth-quarter comeback victory over UGA.
 
Contenders: Jeremiah Attaochu, Harrison Butker, Shaq Mason, Omoregie Uzzi 

 
Louisville: Lamar Jackson 
 
Lamar Jackson is the only player to ever throw for over 3,500 yards and rush for 1,500 yards in the same season. And he did it in both 2016 and 2017. There were times, particularly in 2016, Jackson was so dominant on the field that he dominated the national conversation about college football. Do you want more proof about how dominant Jackson was? Think about how much Louisville struggled in 2018 after he left.  
 
Contenders: Jaire Alexander, Keith Kelsey, Lorenzo Mauldin, Sheldon Rankins

 
Miami: Duke Johnson 
 
Brad Kaaya or Denzel Perryman could be picks that would withstand substantial debate with your friends at the bar. But I’m going with Duke Johnson. He set Miami’s all-time rushing record. In his final season, 2014, he amassed over 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Do you remember that he actually threw a TD pass his freshman year? Johnson also added something you can’t measure with stats. He was a hometown kid who helped revive some of the swagger. The symbolism was important to the entire program. 
 
Contenders: Ereck Flowers, Brad Kaaya, Denzel Perryman 

 
North Carolina: Giovani Bernard 
 
Gio Bernard did everything. EVERYTHING. He averaged over 100 yards rushing per game in his two years in Chapel Hill. He had at least 45 receptions in both seasons. In 2012, Larry Fedora was looking for every possible way to get Bernard the ball so he also handled punt return duties. Sure enough, he broke NC State’s heart with a punt return for the ages. Coincidentally, my second choice is Ryan Switzer, who took over as punt returner after Bernard left for the NFL.
 
Contenders: Jonathan Cooper, Quniton Coples, Quinshad Davis, Ryan Switzer, Mitch Trubisky, Marquise Williams 

 
NC State: Bradley Chubb 
 
Bradley Chubb’s 55 career tackles for loss is No.1 in ACC history. His senior year, Chubb was so dominant that in addition to being ACC Defensive Player of the Year, he also won the Bronco Nagurski Award and Ted Hendricks Award. But perhaps the best part about seeing Chubb play was his sense of humor--whether he was perfecting the art of the flop or playing the role of kleptomaniac.
 
Contenders: Garrett Bradbury, Jacoby Brissett, Ryan Finley, Jaylen Samuels, Earl Wolff 

 
Pitt: James Conner 

Aaron Donald or James Conner? You wouldn’t go wrong either way. Donald’s 1 season in the ACC was otherworldly including 28.5 TFLs to lead the nation. But I’m going with Conner, the 2014 ACC Player of the Year. His comeback in 2016 was so remarkable and inspiring, Conner was a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show. By the time he was done at Pitt, Conner owned the conference record for career touchdowns.
 

Contenders: Tyler Boyd, Aaron Donald, Ejuan Price, Jordan Whitehead 
 

Syracuse: Eric Dungey 

Eric Dungey was improbably good as a true freshman. It’s even more surprising when you consider he was such an under-the-radar recruit. But Dungey went on to throw for more than 9,000 yards in his career. I can’t help but wonder how much more he could have done had he not always been getting banged up--sometimes because of his own carpe diem decisions.
 
Contenders: Zaire Franklin, Steve Ishmael, Erv Philips

 
Virginia: Bryce Perkins
 
Bryce Perkins is the poster boy for Virginia’s football renaissance. Prior to his arrival in Charlottesville, there had been few cherished football memories this decade. But now Perkins and the Cavaliers are in the Orange Bowl. In his two seasons as the QB, Perkins has amassed more than 7,500 yards and 63 TDs as a passer and runner. 
 
Contenders: Oday Aboushi, Quin Blanding, Micah Kiser, Morgan Moses, Olamide Zaccheaus 

 
Virginia Tech: David Wilson 
 
Tyrod Taylor (2010) and David Wilson (2011) are the two Hokies who can claim ACC POY awards in the 2010s. Wilson had an extra season of playing time and productivity in the decade, so he’s the choice. He ran for over 1,700 yards in 2011. In his Hokies’ career, he had over 1,300 yards in kick returns. Pro careers can impact how we remember a college career. We never got to know how good Wilson could be in the NFL, but let’s not forget how great he was in 2011.
 
Contenders: Tremaine Edmunds, Isaiah Ford, Kendall Fuller, Kyle Fuller, Jayron Hosley, Tyrod Taylor 

 
Wake Forest: Michael Campanaro
 
Michael Campanaro was in the top six in receptions in the ACC for three straight years from 2011-2013. Every time Tanner Price felt pressure in the pocket, Campanaro was his security blanket. When Campanaro was done at Wake Forest, he ranked fourth in ACC history in receptions. His senior year, he also led the ACC in theme songs.
 
Contenders: Jessie Bates, Tommy Bohanon, Greg Dortch, Chris Givens, Kevin Johnson, Tanner Price