PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Florida State senior defensive end DeMarcus Walker is the 2016 Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson is the overall ACC Player of the Year.
The ACC announced the winners Wednesday, as voted upon by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
Walker is tied with Boston College junior defensive end Harold Landry for the national lead in quarterback sacks with 15. He leads the Seminoles with 64 total tackles and has 17.5 tackles for loss.
The Jacksonville native has forced three fumbles, recovering two in last Saturday's 31-13 win against rival Florida, and broken up a pair of passes.
Arguably his biggest play of the season was his blocked point-after-kick in the final minutes at Miami, preserving Florida State's 20-19 victory.
Walker becomes the seventh FSU player to earn the distinction, joining linebacker Derrick Brooks (1993), defensive end Derrick Alexander (1994), linebacker Peter Boulware (1996), defensive end Andre Wadsworth (1997), defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (2003) and defensive end Bjoern Werner (2012).
Jackson, who played football at Boynton Beach Community High School, shattered Louisville's single-season record for rushing yards in a season. Jackson has thrown for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns.
He also won the overall ACC Player of the Year balloting with 36 votes. Clemson junior quarterback Deshaun Watson received five votes, while Florida State junior running back Dalvin Cook received three votes.