Florida State's Winston voted ACC player of the year; Pitt's Donald earns defensive award
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has picked up two more individual awards from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The ACC on Wednesday selected Winston as both its overall and offensive player of the year, one day after he was picked as rookie of the year.
Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald also was voted the ACC's defensive player of the year.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Winston is the first redshirt freshman in the 61-year history of the league to win the award.
He received 47 of 65 votes from members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association for the overall award. Boston College running back Andre Williams had 13 votes and Donald had four.
Winston led the Seminoles to a No. 1 ranking and a berth in the ACC championship game opposite No. 20 Duke.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He is the first Florida State player to win the award since Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke in 2000.
Winston leads the nation with a 192.6 pass efficiency rating, is tops in the ACC with 3,490 yards passing and 35 touchdown passes and has emerged as a leading Heisman candidate.
He's one touchdown shy of the FBS record for freshmen, set by Oklahoma's Sam Bradford in 2007.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Florida State ranks second nationally in scoring, averaging 53.7 points. The Seminoles are seventh in total offense with an average of 526.1 total yards.
In separate offensive player of the year voting, Winston had 44 votes to 19 for Williams and two for Clemson QB Tajh Boyd.
Donald had 44 votes for the defensive award to 10 for Wake Forest nose tackle Nikita Whitlock and eight for Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Donald leads the nation with 26½ tackles for losses, and has 10 sacks and four forced fumbles. His blocked extra point in the Panthers' 17-16 win over Syracuse on Nov. 23 made them bowl eligible.