GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – North Carolina redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye has been voted the ACC Rookie of the Year for the 2022 football season, while Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton earned the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honor.
The honors were determined by a 65-member voting panel consisting of 51 selected media and the conference’s 14 head coaches.
Maye, who hails from Huntersville, North Carolina, has thrown for 3,847 yards and 35 touchdowns to go along with 629 yards rushing and six more TDs to lead the nation in total offense. He is just the ninth FBS quarterback since 2010 to post 3,500 pass yards, 35 passing TDs, 500 rushing yards, and five rushing TDs in a season.
Also voted the ACC Offensive Player of the Year for the 2022 season, Maye became the only conference player in the last 25 years to register at least 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in four consecutive games. While leading the Tar Heels to the Coastal Division title and a spot opposite Clemson in this Saturday night’s Subway ACC Football Championship Game, he was voted the ACC Quarterback of the Week six times and was a five-time ACC Rookie of the Week selection.
Maye was named a semifinalist for Walter Camp National Player of the Year, as well as the Davey O'Brien, Maxwell and Alexander Awards. He was also named to the Watch List for the Manning Award, which recognizes college football’s top quarterback.
Florida State’s Payton made a definite impact as he helped the Seminoles to a 9-3 finish and a spot in a bowl game for the first time since 2019.
Earning a place in the regular rotation at defensive end, this Miami native has registered 29 total tackles, including four quarterback sacks and five total tackles for loss. Three pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble added to his banner college debut year.
Payton is part of a Seminole defensive unit that ranks first in the ACC in total defense and passing defense (fourth nationally) and second in scoring defense, limiting opponents to averages of 307 total yards, 158.9 passing yards and 19.7 points per game.
The complete breakdown of the 2022 ACC Football Rookie of the Year voting:
Rookie of the Year
Drake Maye, North Carolina, 61
Antonio Williams, Clemson, 2
Patrick Payton, Florida State, 1
Clayton Powell-Lee, Georgia Tech, 1
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Drake Maye, North Carolina, 62
Antonio Williams, Clemson, 3
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Patrick Payton, Florida State, 34
Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech, 26
Clayton Powell-Lee, Georgia Tech, 5