July 25, 2011

Boston College running back Montel Harris, who enters his final season within striking distance of the conference's 33-year-old record for career rushing yardage, earned Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Player of the Year honors and Boston College football has been projected to finish fourth in the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division, according to a poll of media members assembled at the annual Football Kickoff at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C.

Harris, who enters this fall with 3,600 career rushing yards, the most of any ACC player after his junior season, was chosen by 26 media representatives. Florida State quarterack EJ Manuel was second with 14 votes, while Boston College junior linebacker Luke Kuechly, a 2010 unanimous All-America linebacker selection, was third with 12 votes.

Florida State is the consensus choice to win the Atlantic Division and to defeat Virginia Tech in the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game.

The Seminoles were chosen as the favorite to win the ACC's Atlantic Division with 65 first-place votes and 420 points. Clemson received four first-place votes and 286 points, edging NC State which finished with 270 points.

Meanwhile, Virginia Tech was the media's choice to win the ACC's Coastal Division. The Hokies were selected to win the division with 420 points and 66 first-place votes, outdistancing Miami (328 points, four first-place votes).

This fall, Harris will be chasing the Atlantic Coast Conference career rushing record of 4,602 yards, set by NC State All-America Ted Brown from 1975-78.