It's Derwin James vs. Lamar Jackson. And the winner is ...?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- One is viewed by Sports Illustrated as the best player in college football. The other is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Both play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Fans and pundits view Florida State redshirt sophomore safety Derwin James and Louisville junior quarterback Lamar Jackson as two of the game's biggest stars. The media's pick for preseason ACC Player of the Year will be released in the coming days.
But what about their fellow opponents in the conference?
During the ACC Kickoff event this past week, Warchant asked several rival players within the Atlantic Division to pick which one deserves top honors, and here's what they said.
Boston College offensive lineman Jon Baker:
"I don't really get into all that. I see guys on film and that's about it. Or maybe on a Saturday after our games. I would say based off the stats, I'd say Lamar Jackson because he's the previous Heisman winner."
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North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb:
"They're both outstanding players, and I probably couldn't pick which one I'd prefer to go against because they both do things that are amazing. Like I said, Lamar does something new every week, and Derwin does the same thing. It would be a hard choice to make, so I don't really know."
Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey:
"I have not really seen Derwin play much. Lamar, obviously, he's the Heisman winner. He's a great player, electric. But honestly, I couldn't put one or two on them. They're both very exceptional players."
Syracuse linebacker Zaire Franklin:
"Derwin plays defense, and I don't have nothing to do with him. I haven't watched him because we usually watch every team in the ACC because everybody plays each other and you see everybody regardless. I haven't watched him because obviously, he wasn't playing. But he's a good player. Lamar Jackson is definitely different. You win the Heisman Trophy for a reason. If you're going to win the Heisman Trophy, I guess you have to be considered the best player in the country."
Boston College defensive end Harold Landry:
"I mean if I had to choose, and their both great players. But if I had to choose, I would have went with Lamar. I've gone against him. To be honest, I've had to watch film on him. I play defense. I don't play offense. I know Derwin James has great potential and is an awesome player. But I probably would have went with Lamar based off what he did last year. He won the Heisman Trophy."
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N.C. State running back Jaylen Samuels:
"Oh. That's tough. That's two great players. I'd say Lamar Jackson. You always need a quarterback to get your offense going. I feel like if you have a player like that on your offense, you're going to do great things because he's a heck of a football player."
Wake Forest tight end Cam Serigne:
"See, they're both really, really good players. They're both great players and deserve to be at the top of that list. Which one goes before the other one? I have no idea. That's for a guy way above my pay grade."
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