ACC Football: All-ACC NFL Defense

TL;DR

The All-ACC NFL Defense features standout players from ACC schools, including Brian Burns and Zach Allen. The team is structured in a nickel package with specific positions filled by top performers from the league.

Key points

All-ACC NFL Defense features top players from ACC schools
Defense structured in a nickel package
Players must be drafted from ACC schools
Brian Burns had 16.5 sacks last season
Cedric Gray recorded 164 tackles

Tennessee TitansNew York GiantsLos Angeles RamsPittsburgh Steelers

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 05: Starling Thomas V #24 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football against Cedric Gray #33 of the Tennessee Titans during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. The Titans defeated the Cardinals 22-21. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images We continue with our All-ACC NFL team today, this time taking a look at the defense. As I mentioned yesterday, the defense will be based on a nickel package and consist of two edge, two interior defensive linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs. Each section will have starters and a backup and since this is a UNC site, if a North Carolina player wasn’t mentioned and one was available for the position, I created a Tar Heel spotlight for that position. A quick reminder of the rules:

All players had to be drafted from the one of the 17 ACC football schools (Notre Dame is ineligible).
The player just has to be drafted from the school, not necessarily to have played at that school while in the ACC. If you want more detail on the rules or want to check out the offense, click here. Otherwise, let’s dive into the defensive side of the ball.