Hendricks named to preseason All-ACC team

Pitt senior safety Jason Hendricks was the only Panther player named to the 2013 All-ACC Preseason Team, which was released Wednesday morning.

Hendricks, who earned All-Big East honors in 2012 after registering 90 tackles and six interceptions, received 18 votes, trailing North Carolina’s Tre Boston, who received 30. But perhaps the most notable storyline from the release of the list is the absence of Pitt senior defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

After emerging as one of the nation’s top defensive lineman last season, Donald received 13 votes to the preseason All-ACC team, trailing Florida State’s Timmy Jernigan, who received 34 votes, and Nikita Whitlock of Wake Forest, who topped all defensive lineman in the conference with 35 votes.

Earlier this summer, Donald was named to the preseason watch list for the Bednarik Award, which is given to college football’s top defensive player. He was also named a preseason All-American by Athlon, Lindy’s Sports and Phil Steele.

Redshirt senior punter Matt Yoklic received three votes, placing him in the top three among punters in the conference.