Clemson Tigers DE Da’Quan Bowers has already won the Bronko Nagurski Award, given to the defensive player of the year, and is also nominated for the Chuck Bednarik, which claims the same criteria. He’s also up for the Ted Hendricks (best defensive end) and Lombardi (best lineman, offensive or defensive).
Florida St. Seminoles left guard Rodney Hudson is the only other ACC nominee for any major award, nominated for the Outland Trophy. The Outland goes to the nation’s most outstanding offensive or defensive interior lineman. He was named the conference’s best lineman last year.
Bowers leads the nation in sacks with 15, dropping quarterbacks for 24 more yards than any other defender. He’s also second in tackles for loss with 24, again accounting for more lost yardage than anybody else. He picked up a sack against Hudson’s Noles this year, though it’s unlikely the two were matched up against each other very often.