The Preseason All-ACC Team was announced Thursday, and Pitt placed second league-wide with three selections: tailback/punt returner Desmond Reid, who was chosen to the offensive and specialist teams, plus linebacker Kyle Louis, who made the defensive squad.
Clemson led the ACC with 11 selections.
Additionally, Reid, Louis and quarterback Eli Holstein received votes from the panel of 183 media members for ACC Preseason Player of the Year.
Clemson quarterback Cade Clubnik received the most votes (146), while Reid, Louis and Holstein tied for seventh place.
Reid, a senior, ran for 966 yards last season, his first at Pitt. He added 579 receiving yards and averaged 12.2 yards as a punt returner, including a touchdown.
Holstein, a sophomore, completed 62% of his passes (180 of 291) for 2,228 yards and 17 touchdowns last fall, which was also his first season with the Panthers.
His 17 touchdowns tied Pitt’s freshman record set by Alex Van Pelt in 1989.
As for Louis, a redshirt junior who earned All-American and All-ACC honors last season, he recorded 101 tackles (team-high 15 1/2 for loss) along with a team-best seven sacks and four interceptions.
As a team, the Panthers were chosen to finish ninth in the 17-member ACC in Thursday’s preseason media poll.
