Cisco Wins ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Syracuse freshman safety Andre Cisco has been voted the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, the conference announced on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Cisco received 40 votes in the balloting to win the award, which was first presented in 2007, over runner-up Xavier Thomas (10 votes) of Clemson.

Cisco is the Orange's first ACC individual award winner since joining the league in 2013, and he is Syracuse's first major conference award recipient since 2001 when Dwight Freeney shared BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors with Miami's Ed Reed.

An All-ACC First Team selection, Cisco is a primary reason why the Orange are +14 in turnover margin. He is tied atop the national leaderboard with seven interceptions. Cisco also has nine pass breakups, giving him 16 passes defended for the season, the second-most among FBS freshmen and a Syracuse true-freshman record. Cisco's 51 tackles (41 solo) rank fifth on the team. He also has a forced fumble.

Cisco garnered one vote for the overall ACC Rookie of the Year Award, which went to Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (57 votes). Lawrence was also voted the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Voting was conducted by a select panel of 46 media members and the league's 14 head coaches.

Along with the conference's other major award winners, Cisco will be honored in Charlotte, N.C. this Friday during the ACC Night of Legends Dinner at the Charlotte Convention Center.

2018 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year Voting
Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse - 40
Xavier Thomas, DE, Clemson - 10
Jaiden Woodbey, LB, Florida State - 5
Charlie Thomas, LB, Georgia Tech - 3
Trey Morrison, CB, North Carolina – 2

ACC Defensive Rookies of the Year
2007 – Deunta Williams, DB, North Carolina
2008 – Sean Spence, LB, Miami
2009 – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
2010 – Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State
2011 – Merrill Noel, CB, Wake Forest
2012 – Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
2013 – Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
2014 – Quin Blanding, S, Virginia
2015 – Jordan Whitehead, SS, Pittsburgh
2016 – Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
2017 – Brenton Nelson, S, Virginia
2018 – Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse

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Syracuse University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Andre Cisco

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