Former Whale Branch Early College High School football star Nyles Pinckney was named to the Preseason All-ACC Team last week.

A standout defensive tackle for defending national champion Clemson, Pinckney is in line for a full-time starting role this season after recording 26 tackles (4.5 for loss), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as a redshirt sophomore last season. He had two tackles — including one for loss on a fake field-goal attempt — in the Tigers’ win over Alabama in the national championship game.

Pinckney earned his undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Clemson in May and is enrolled as a graduate student with two years of eligibility remaining. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 305 pounds, Pinckney is expected to be a key run-stopper for the Tigers.

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