CHARLOTTE (SMU/The ACC) – SMU offensive lineman Joshua Bates and PJ Williams were named to the 2026 All-ACC Preseason Football Team in a release by the conference on Wednesday.

The duo both earned All-ACC accolades last year with their play up front, where the offensive line continued to power an explosive offensive unit that scored at least 30 points eight times, with 19 scoring drives coming in two minutes or less.

In the passing game, the Mustangs were among the elite teams in the country, with both players leading the way.  SMU ranked 12th in passing yards per game at 283.2.
Kevin Jennings was the runner-up for the Preseason Player of the Year honors, finishing only behind Miami's Darian Mensah.

Jennings reached new heights in his second year as the starting quarterback in 2025. He recorded career highs in completions (300), passing yards (3,641), passing touchdowns (26) and total touchdowns (30), despite battling an ankle injury throughout the season. Jennings completed the year ranked eighth nationally in passing yards and 16th in passing touchdowns, earning him All-ACC Honorable Mention honors.

The Texas native continued to set himself apart on the national stage, becoming one out of just 11 quarterbacks in all of FBS to have at least 25 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns. 

2026 All-ACC Preseason Football Team
Offense
QB: Darian Mensah, Miami (112) *
RB: Mark Fletcher, Jr., Miami (127)
RB: Isaac Brown, Louisville (94)
WR: Malachi Toney, Miami (164)
WR: Duce Robinson, Florida State (131)
WR: Bryant Wesco Jr., Clemson (64)
TE: Jeremiah Hasley, Duke (61)
AP: Malachi Toney, Miami (94)
OT: PJ Williams, SMU (96)
OT: McKale Boley, Virginia (77)
OG: Noah Josey, Virginia (71)
OG: Samson Okunlola, Miami (53)
C: Josh Bates, SMU (64)

Defense 
DE: Will Heldt, Clemson (87)
DE: Clev Lubin, Louisville (79)
DT: Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami (126)
DT: Kemari Copeland, Virginia Tech (89)
LB: Sammy Brown, Clemson (139)
LB: Kam Robinson, Virginia (98)
LB: Mohamed Toure, Miami (64)
CB: Ashton Hampton, Clemson (81)
CB: Chris Peal, Syracuse (45)
S: Bryce Fitzgerald, Miami (86)
S: KP Price, Boston College (45)

Specialists 
PK: Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech (105)
P: Daniel Sparks, Virginia (48)
SP: Malachi Toney, Miami (104)

Votes by position in parentheses
*Preseason Player of the Year
188 media voters

2026 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year
Rank, Name, Position, School
1. Darian Mensah, QB, Miami (97)
2. Kevin Jennings, QB, SMU (25)
3. Isaac Brown, RB, Louisville (16)
4. CJ Bailey, QB, NC State (15)
5. Duce Robinson, WR, Florida State (12)
6. Sammy Brown, LB, Clemson (11)
7. Kam Robinson, LB, Virginia (5)
8. Will Heldt, DE, Clemson (4)
9. Mason Heintschel, QB, Pitt (3)
 
Votes in parentheses
188 media voters