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Preseason league favorite Miami claimed a third of the spots on the Atlantic Coast Conference's preseason all-conference team, including transfer quarterback Darian Mensah as the preseason pick for player of the year.
The league released its preseason team Wednesday after voting by media members credentialed for the ACC's football media days earlier this month.
That came a day after the Hurricanes were picked to win the ACC title -- something the Hurricanes have never done in more than two decades in the league -- after last year's run to the College Football Playoff title game.
Mensah is a high-profile addition who led Duke past Virginia in last year's league championship game for the Blue Devils' first outright ACC crown since 1962.
Now he's set to play for the Hurricanes as the favorite to become player of the year, claiming 97 of 188 votes to outdistance SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (25), Louisville running back Isaac Brown (16) and N.C. State QB CJ Bailey (15).
Miami claimed nine of the 27 spots on the all-ACC team, including Malachi Toney at receiver, as an all-purpose threat and as a return specialist. Mensah and Toney were joined by running back Mark Fletcher Jr. and offensive guard Samson Okunlola on the offense, while tackle Ahmad Moten Sr., linebacker Mohamed Toure and safety Bryce Fitzgerald made the all-defense team.
Clemson and Virginia each had four selections, while Louisville and SMU each had two as the only other teams to have multiple all-ACC picks.
LB suspended
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee senior linebacker Arion Carter will miss the first two games of the season because of an NCAA suspension tied to an agent paying for a $427 flight to an NFL training facility during the pre-draft process.
The Knoxville News Sentinel first reported the suspension. The school later confirmed the two-game length to The Associated Press. Coach Josh Heupel says the Volunteers "disagree" with the suspension, noting Carter repaid the flight cost. Carter had declared for the draft last December before an injury and medical procedure ultimately led him to withdraw and return to school.
Ole Miss suing LSU
The University of Mississippi is suing two former football players who transferred to LSU, alleging they failed to compensate the university for their departure as required by a revenue-sharing agreement they'd both signed in early January.
The lawsuit, filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court in Oxford, Mississippi, stems in part from former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin's high-profile departure for LSU late last season. The defendants are edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper. LSU has declined to comment on the matter. Ole Miss seeks $550,000 from Umanmielen and $400,000 from Harper.