Maurice Ffrench named to preseason All-ACC team

Pitt return specialist Maurice Ffrench was named to the preseason All-ACC team on Tuesday. The 27-man team was voted on by 173 members of the media at the ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Clemson was was the dominant presence on the preseason team, with 13 players listed, and Syracuse had the second most, with four. Only six representatives from the ACC Coastal Division were selected.

The preseason honor is Ffrench’s second notable accolade this summer, as he was also named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the most outstanding college football player in the nation annually. Ffrench is the only Pitt representative on the 27-man preseason All-ACC team and was the only nominee from Pitt on the Maxwell watch list.

Much is expected of Ffrench this season, as he led the ACC in average kick return yards, with 27.4 per return, as well as kick return touchdowns, with two, in 2018. Those marks also placed him seventh and second in the nation, respectively. In addition, Ffrench could see his role expand, as he is currently penciled in as the team’s top kick returner, top punt returner and a starting wide receiver on Pitt's depth chart, which was released last week.

Last season, Ffrench accounted for 10 touchdowns, including six on receptions, two on runs and two on kick returns. He also contributed 515 receiving yards and 164 rushing yards in addition to his 547 kick return yards, making him one of the team’s more productive players. Given Pitt's needs on offense and special teams this season, he will likely be called upon to not only replicate last year's production, but to build on it as well.