GT’s Johnson earns ACC coach of year award
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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson is the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year for the third time.
In voting results released Tuesday, Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya was picked as the league’s rookie of the year.
Johnson received 32 of 55 votes cast by Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association members for the coaching award while Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher had 14.
Johnson – who won the award in 2008 and ’09 – guided No. 12 Georgia Tech to a 10-2 record, the Coastal Division championship and a spot opposite No. 2 Florida State in the ACC title game.
Kaaya, who threw an ACC-best 25 touchdowns, received 22 votes for the overall rookie award and 33 in offensive rookie voting.
Virginia safety Quin Blanding is the league’s defensive rookie of the year.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson finished third in overall (seven votes) and second in offensive (10) voting.
Blanding received 37 votes for the defensive award while Clemson defensive back Mackenzie Alexander had 10.
Kaaya’s 2,962 yards passing this season are the fourth-most by a freshman in league history. Blanding led all freshmen in the Bowl Subdivision with 10.3 tackles per game.