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ACC All-Conference picks: Dalvin Cook, Jeremy Cash lead the way

Clemson's Deshaun Watson has been the ACC's best quarterback through the first half of the season. Tyler Smith/Getty Images

We’ve reached the halfway point, and our midseason All-ACC team doesn’t quite match the one we set out in the preseason.

OFFENSE

QB: Deshaun Watson (Clemson): He’s gotten better as the season has progressed, but he’s one of just six QBs with multiple TD passes in every game.

RB: Dalvin Cook (FSU): He leads all Power 5 rushers in yards per carry, and he’s done much of it while playing on a gimpy hamstring.

RB: Elijah Hood (UNC): Tough call here among a group of worthy candidates, but Hood is averaging nearly 7 yards per carry and has been crucial to the Tar Heels’ offense.

WR: Tyler Boyd (Pitt): He missed Pitt’s opener and still leads the ACC in receptions. He’s caught 45.1 percent of the Panthers’ receptions, the highest rate by any Power 5 receiver.

WR: Isaiah Ford (Virginia Tech): He’s played with multiple quarterbacks on an offense that hasn’t always looked in sync, but Ford still leads the ACC with 497 yards and seven touchdowns.

TE: Cam Serigne (Wake Forest): Serigne leads all ACC tight ends in both catches and receiving yards this season, and since the start of 2014, no tight end in the Power 5 has more receptions (88) or yards (900).

OT: Rod Johnson (Florida State): The Seminoles’ line hasn’t been great this year, but Johnson has been terrific in leading a young group that’s gotten better each week.

OG: Landon Turner (North Carolina): The Tar Heels lead the ACC in yards-per-rush and are third in sack rate, and the success of the line all starts with Turner.

C: Matt Skura (Duke): The line has done a fantastic job of protecting QB Thomas Sirk, and the ground game -- particularly between the tackles -- has been a strength of this offense.

OG: Eric Mac Lain (Clemson): His starting center has been out with an injury and his left tackle is a true freshman, yet Mac Lain’s line has held its own. Credit the veteran guard with holding things together.

OT: Jon Heck (North Carolina): The Tar Heels’ line has been exceptional, and while Heck has helped protect the QB well, UNC is also leading the ACC in yards before contact when rushing around the right edge.

DEFENSE

DE: Shaq Lawson (Clemson): Lawson stepped in for superstar Vic Beasley and hasn’t missed a beat, ranking up 10.5 tackles for loss this season and manhandling Notre Dame lineman and All-America candidate Ronnie Stanley along the way.

DT: Luther Maddy (Virginia Tech): The Hokies lead the ACC in getting pressure on opposing QBs, and they’ve been excellent at stuffing the run between the tackles. Credit for that goes largely to Maddy, who leads all ACC defensive tackles in tackles for loss (6.5).

DT: Connor Wujciak (Boston College): The redshirt senior has 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two QB hurries on a defense that has allowed virtually nothing up the middle this season. The Eagles’ line has helped hold opponents to just 1.72 yards-per-carry overall, tops in the nation.

DE: Ejuan Price (Pitt): A year ago, Pitt’s pass rush was non-existent. Through six games, the Panthers have already far exceeded 2014’s sack total, and Price has been a big reason why. He’s fourth in the ACC with 9.5 tackles for loss.

LB: Steven Daniels (Boston College): Even in a loss to Clemson in which the defense finally looked vulnerable, Daniels still created havoc with nine tackles and a sack. He’s been the leader on a unit that still tops the country in total defense.

LB: Ben Boulware (Clemson): With one pick, 38 tackles and seven QB hurries, Boulware has helped torment opposing teams all season on a unit that ranks second in the nation in defensive efficiency.

LB: Micah Kiser (Virginia): It’s been a rough start for the Cavaliers, but Kiser has been a star. He leads the ACC in tackles (61), is third in tackles for loss (10), tied for the lead in sacks (5) and has forced two fumbles.

S: Jeremy Cash (Duke): Arguably the ACC’s best player through the first half of the season, Cash ranks among the top 10 in the league in tackles per game, tackles for loss and forced fumbles and is leading a Duke defense that ranks among the nation’s best.

S: Jayron Kearse (Clemson): Four tackles for loss, one pick, one fumble recovery, two passes broken up and two QB hurries -- Kearse has done a little of everything for a terrific Clemson secondary.

CB: Jalen Ramsey (FSU): In his return to cornerback after two years at safety, Ramsey has seven pass break-ups and he’s leading a Florida State defense that looks much improved from a year ago.

CB: Mackensie Alexander (Clemson): Before the season, he called himself the best corner in the country. Through six games, he’s proving it, shutting down Notre Dame’s Will Fuller and leading a secondary that is allowing just 43.8 percent completions.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Michael Badgley (Miami): Tons of competition here, but Badgley leads the ACC in field goals (16) and has booted seven more than 40 yards.

P: Riley Dixon (Syracuse): Wake’s Alex Kinal actually leads the ACC in net yardage, but only slightly. Meanwhile, 36 percent of Dixon’s punts are downed inside the opponent’s 10, and he’s been a wiz running the fake.

Ret: DeVon Edwards (Duke): Edwards leads the nation, averaging nearly 40 yards per return, and he’s scored twice in six games.