No. 7. Sylvester Williams, DT, UNC
2012 stats: He finished with 42 tackles (21 solo), including 13.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and had six quarterback hurries.
Previous ranking: NR
Making the case for Williams: Williams, a first-team all-ACC selection by both the coaches and the media, was one of the ACC’s best stories of perseverance. He enrolled at Carolina in January 2011, after two seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Following high school, Williams thought his playing days were over. He got a job at Modine Manufacturing Company making radiator parts for large trucks before enrolling at Coffeyville. While at UNC, he established himself as one of the country’s best interior linemen and graduated in December. He was ranked among the top 50 players in the country in tackles for losses. He played through an ankle sprain midway through the season and still ended the year on a positive note. He had two tackles and a tackle for loss against Maryland in the season finale. A week earlier, in a nationally-televised Thursday night game at Virginia, Williams had a career-high eight stops, two tackles for losses and a 10-yard sack.
No. 8 Dalton Freeman, C, Clemson
No. 9 Andre Ellington, RB, Clemson
No. 10 Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
No. 11 Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
No. 12 Conner Vernon, WR, Duke
No. 14 Joe Vellano, DL, Maryland
No. 15 Lamarcus Joyner, S, Florida State
No. 16 Kevin Reddick, LB, North Carolina
No. 17 Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
No. 18 Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke
No. 19 Dustin Hopkins, K, Florida State
No. 20 Bryn Renner, QB, North Carolina
No. 21 Alex Amidon, WR, Boston College
No. 22 Antone Exum, CB, Virginia Tech
No. 23 Omoregie Uzzi, OG, Georgia Tech
No. 24 Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest
No. 25 Mike Glennon, QB, NC State
