Former Liberty County High School running back and current North Carolina State player Shadrach Thornton received honorable mention on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team, according to a press release on gopack.com.
The All-ACC recipients’ announcement was released by the league earlier this week.
Thornton’s teammates Art Norman and Thomas Teal also received honorable mention, while Wolfpack punter Wil Baumann made the first team.
For the third year in a row, Thornton leads the North Carolina State Wolfpack in rushing with 811 yards and rushing touchdowns (nine) this season. He ranks sixth in the ACC in rushing and ninth in touchdowns. Over the last two games, both Wolfpack wins, Thornton has averaged 135.5 rushing yards (44 carries, 271 yards).
According to the news release, N.C. State — which beat North Carolina, 35-7, last Saturday in Chapel Hill to finish 7-5 overall and 3-5 in the ACC — is waiting to hear about its bowl destination. An announcement on that decision is expected Sunday.
According to backingthepack.com, the Wolfpack’s bowl destination relies on where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish land.
News and Observer sports writer Joe Giglio wrote there are four bowls that ACC considers Tier I bowls: the Belk, Sun, Pinstripe and either Music City or Gator. Six teams are eligible for those bowls: Clemson, Louisville, Boston College, Duke, N.C. State and Notre Dame.
Giglio wrote, “Since there’s no order to the Tier I selections, the games interested in Notre Dame will submit their names for a drawing. The bowl that wins the drawing will get to select Notre Dame.”
If the Fighting Irish end up going to the Belk Bowl, N.C. State could go to one of the other Tier I bowls or fall to one of the four Tier II slots: the Military, Quick Lane, Bitcoin or Independence bowls.