June 1, 2006

Franklin, Tenn. - Junior linebacker Jon Abbate and senior offensive tackle Steve Vallos were selected to Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook preseason All-ACC team, the publication announced Thursday.

Abbate earned honorable mention All-ACC honors as a freshman and a sophomore. He was the runner-up for the 2004 ACC Rookie of the Year award behind Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson. The native of Powder Springs, Ga., has led the Deacons in tackles each of the past two seasons. He is the first player to lead Wake Forest in back-to-back seasons since 1993-94 and the first player to ever do it in his first two seasons.

Vallos has started every game of his Wake Forest career, 35 in a row. As a junior, Vallos was a member of the Lombardi Trophy watch list. He was a second team All-ACC selection at guard in 2004 and an honorable mention pick in 2005. Vallos has helped Wake Forest lead the ACC in rushing twice in the past three years. The native of Boardman, Ohio, has registered 388.5 knockdown blocks during his first three years with the Deacons.

Last month, The Sporting News chose Vallos and junior running back Micah Andrews to the first team. The publication also named Abbate and senior safety Josh Gattis to the second team.

OFFENSE
Pos.  	Player	        School	        Ht.	Wt.	Cl.
QB	Kyle Wright	Miami	        6-4	220	Jr.
RB	Lance Ball	Maryland	5-9	225	Jr.
RB	James Davis	Clemson	        5-11	210	So.
WR	Calvin Johnson	Georgia Tech	6-4	230	Jr.
WR	Chansi Stuckey	Clemson	        6-0	190	Sr.
OL	Barry RichardsonClemson	        6-7	345	Jr.
OL	Steve Vallos	Wake Forest	6-3	290	Sr.
OL	Josh Beekman	Boston College	6-2	325	Sr.
OL	Leroy Harris	NC State	6-3	300	Sr.
TE	Greg Olsen	Miami	        6-5	252	Jr.
DEFENSE
Pos.  	Player	        School	        Ht.	Wt.	Cl.
DL	Gaines Adams	Clemson	        6-5	265	Sr.
DL	Baraka Atkins	Miami	        6-4	264	Sr.
DL	Chris Ellis	Virginia Tech	6-5	250	Jr.
DL	DeMario Pressley NC State	6-4	293	Jr.
LB	Jon Abbate	Wake Forest	5-11	245	Jr.
LB	Buster Davis	Florida State	5-11	240	Sr.
LB	Vince Hall	Virginia Tech	6-0	236	Jr.
DB	Brandon Meriweather Miami	6-0	188	Sr.
DB	Kenny Phillips	Miami	        6-2	200	So.
DB	John Talley	Duke	        5-11	180	Sr.
DB	Jamie Silva	Boston College	5-11	205	Jr.
SPECIALISTS
Pos.  	Player	        School	        Ht.	Wt.	Cl.
K	Jad Dean	Clemson	        5-11	208	Sr.
KR	Darrell Blackman NC State	5-10	209	Jr.
P	Adam Podlesh	Maryland	6-0	192	Sr.
PR	Brandon Tate	North Carolina	6-1	185	So.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brandon Meriweather, DB, Miami
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Willie Young, DE, NC State