FSU’s Winston finishes 2nd to Pitt’s Conner for ACC player of the year

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Pittsburgh running back James Conner’s career as a defensive end is likely over.The sophomore was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year on Wednesday following a breakout season in which the 6-foot-2, 250-pound back led the league in rushing and set a school record for touchdowns in a season.Conner received 16 of 55 votes cast by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association — three more than Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, last year’s winner.Not bad for a player who expected to spend time on both sides of the ball coming into the season. The experiment as a two-way player ended before it began. Conner ran for 213 yards against Boston College on Sept. 5 and never let up. He ended up making a brief cameo at end midway through the year before the plan was scuttled for good.”Things change over time,” Conner said with a laugh. “Stuff happens, you’ve just got to go with the flow.”In voting results released Wednesday by the league, Conner also was picked as its offensive player of the year while Clemson defensive end Vic Beasley was selected as the defensive player of the year.Beasley, who was third… Read full this story

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