Nicks, Tate On Preseason All-ACC Team

GREENSBORO, Ga. -- University of North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and kick returner Brandon Tate have been selected to the 2008 preseason all-conference team in voting by media attending the annual Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff.

Nicks set the single-season school record last year with 74 catches for 958 yards and five touchdowns. A junior from Charlotte, N.C., Nicks currently ranks 10th at UNC in career receiving yards (1,618) and 10th in career receptions (113).

A second-team All-ACC pick in 2007, Nicks enters 2008 just 64 receptions shy of Carolina's career mark of 177. Over the last two seasons, Nicks has 113 receptions, which is more than ACC career record holder Desmond Clark of Wake Forest (85) had at this stage of his career.

A senior from Burlington, N.C., Tate already owns the ACC career record for kickoff return yardage with 2,383 yards. He is the nation's active career leader in kickoff return yards and is on pace to break the NCAA record set by Jeff Liggon of Tulane who had 2,922 kickoff return yards from 1933-96.

Tate also blossomed into one of the ACC's top big play receivers last season and led the Tar Heels with 19.2 yards per catch and five touchdowns. He led the ACC in all-purpose yards in 2007 with 147.1 per game.

2008 Preseason All-ACC Football Team

(Offense)
QB - Cullen Harper, Clemson
RB - Josh Adams, Wake Forest
RB - James Davis, Clemson
WR - Aaron Kelly, Clemson
WR - Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina
TE - Ryan Purvis, Boston College
T - Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech
T - Eugene Monroe, Virginia
G - Rodney Hudson, Florida State
G - Sergio Render, Virginia Tech
C - Edwin Williams, Maryland

(Defense)
DE - Everette Brown, Florida State
DE - Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
DT - Ron Brace, Boston College
DT - Vance Walker, Georgia Tech
LB - Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
LB - Clint Sintim, Virginia
LB - Brian Toal, Boston College
CB - Victor Harris, Virginia Tech
CB - Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest
S - Michael Hamlin, Clemson
S - Myron Rolle, Florida State

(Specialists)
PK - Sam Swank, Wake Forest
P - Graham Gano, Florida State
RET - Brandon Tate, North Carolina