Buried in all of the conference realignment noise and other outside hoopla, the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association named Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd as the ACC Player of the Year, edging out Carolina running back Giovani Bernard by a single vote.
Boyd was also named the league's offensive player of the year, also by just one vote. Florida State's Bjoern Werner was named the ACC defensive player of the year.
There was really no contest for either the overall player of the year or offensive player of the year voting as Boyd and Bernard were clearly the stars of the league this year. Boyd, a junior, led the ACC in total offense per game with over 336 yards per game. He threw for 34 TDs and rushed for 9 more. Bernard, a sophomore, led the league in rushing, scoring average, punt return average, and all-purpose yardage despite missing 2 1/2 games due to injury.
Boyd received 20 votes for player of the year, while Bernard tallied 19. Others receiving votes for ACC POY included Clemson receiver DeAndre Harris and Florida State defensive ends Werner and Cornellius Carradine. In the offensive POY voting, Boyd had 22 votes and Bernard had 21. Additional votes were earned by Hopkins and FSU QB E.J. Manuel.
