In an era where college athletics continues to command the national spotlight, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has once again made it clear that academic excellence is as important as athletic achievement. The release of the 2024-25 All-ACC Academic Team showcases the outstanding student-athletes who have managed to balance grueling schedules, maintain elite physical conditioning, and still excel in the classroom with discipline, integrity, and purpose.
This year’s honorees reflect the essence of the student-athlete model. With rigorous academic requirements, relentless training regimens, frequent travel, and the pressure of representing their schools on national stages, these individuals have demonstrated a rare commitment to excellence on and off the field. The All-ACC Academic Team not only rewards academic achievement but also acknowledges leadership, time management, and a deep sense of responsibility.
To qualify for the All-ACC Academic Team, student-athletes must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the current academic year while also making significant contributions to their teams during the season. The standards are demanding, but they underscore the ACC’s commitment to developing well-rounded individuals who thrive in both arenas. Many of the names recognized this year are not only familiar to fans for their performances in key matchups but also for their consistency and leadership within their athletic departments and communities.
The 2024-25 team features representatives from all 15 ACC member institutions and spans across numerous sports, including football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming and diving, cross country, field hockey, and more. While every athlete recognized has a story worth telling, the diversity of their academic pursuits is equally impressive. Honorees are majoring in fields such as biomedical engineering, political science, finance, psychology, computer science, and public health. Some are already enrolled in graduate or professional degree programs, further demonstrating the high bar they’ve set for themselves.
Among this year’s honorees is Duke wide receiver Jordan Moore, who not only posted career-highs in receptions and touchdowns but also maintained a 3.87 GPA while majoring in public policy. Moore, who has ambitions of attending law school post-graduation, spoke openly about the challenges of managing time, sleep, and expectations. “There’s not a lot of room for error,” he said. “You learn to plan your day down to the minute. But I take pride in proving that you don’t have to choose between football and your education.”
Similarly, Florida State midfielder Olivia Garcia, a key cog in the Seminoles’ deep NCAA tournament run, was lauded not only for her performance on the pitch but for her role in spearheading a mental health awareness campaign on campus. As a psychology major with a 4.0 GPA, Garcia has made it her mission to remove stigma and build support systems for her fellow student-athletes. “I love the game, but I want my time here to mean more than goals and assists,” she said. “This honor reinforces that academics matter just as much as championships.”
The 2024-25 list also includes Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, who navigated one of the most scrutinized positions in college football with poise while maintaining a 3.71 GPA as a mechanical engineering major. His ability to stay grounded amidst adversity has earned admiration from teammates, professors, and fans alike. “It’s tough. You feel the pressure every week,” Klubnik admitted. “But my family always reminded me that education lasts a lifetime. The field is just one part of who I am.”
Another standout is North Carolina’s Emma Wilson, a senior captain on the women’s cross country team and a double major in environmental studies and chemistry. Wilson led the Tar Heels in several meets this season and is currently working on an undergraduate research project focused on renewable energy solutions. Her passion for science is matched only by her relentless competitiveness, traits that made her a unanimous selection to the All-ACC Academic Team. “I’ve had amazing mentors who encouraged me to push the boundaries,” Wilson said. “Being recognized in this way is incredibly validating.”
For many of these student-athletes, the support systems in place at their institutions—academic advisors, tutors, professors, coaches, and teammates—have been essential to their success. The ACC has worked in concert with its member schools to provide resources that ensure athletes are not just surviving the rigors of their dual responsibilities, but thriving. Mentorship programs, study halls, leadership seminars, and life skills development have all played roles in helping athletes maintain their academic standing.
University of Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich praised the conference’s commitment to academics, saying, “Our student-athletes are here to compete at the highest level, but we never lose sight of their future beyond sports. These honors are a testament to their character, perseverance, and intelligence. They embody everything we hope for in collegiate athletics.”
Wake Forest’s John Hamilton, a senior men’s soccer defender and neuroscience major, has already published two academic papers and is planning to pursue an MD/PhD program following graduation. Hamilton’s selection further demonstrates the caliber of intellect within the ACC. “There are late nights, missed holidays, and a lot of sacrifices,” Hamilton said. “But I love learning. The lab, the library, the field—each teaches you something valuable.”
It’s also worth noting how many of these honorees are role models for their younger teammates, often setting the tone for study habits, accountability, and long-term goals. Whether through mentoring programs or informal study groups, upperclassmen on the All-ACC Academic Team have helped create cultures of excellence that are sustainable and impactful.
The visibility of this honor also plays a crucial role in shifting the narrative around what it means to be a student-athlete. In a college sports landscape often dominated by NIL deals, transfer portal drama, and coaching changes, the ACC’s recognition of academic achievement serves as a reminder that education remains at the heart of the collegiate experience. These student-athletes are walking proof that ambition in one area does not have to come at the expense of another.
This year’s honorees are also preparing for diverse futures. Some are looking at professional sports careers, but many are eyeing roles in medicine, law, education, tech, business, and public service. Their goals may differ, but they share a foundation of discipline, resilience, and the belief that excellence isn’t a one-dimensional pursuit.
As the 2024-25 academic year winds down, and as many of these athletes graduate or prepare for another season, the All-ACC Academic Team serves as a powerful bookend to their journeys. For underclassmen and incoming freshmen, it sets the tone for what’s possible. For coaches and administrators, it reaffirms the mission. And for fans, it’s a chance to appreciate a different kind of highlight reel—one filled with term papers, group projects, office hours, and finals week triumphs.
These athletes are not just competing for trophies—they are preparing to lead, to innovate, and to serve long after the final whistle blows. In classrooms, boardrooms, research labs, and hospitals, they will continue to shine. The 2024-25 All-ACC Academic Team isn’t just a list of names—it’s a celebration of potential realized and a preview of greatness still to come.
As long as honors like these exist, so too will the message that academics and athletics are not competing forces, but complementary ones. The ACC has recognized that once again, and this year’s class of academic all-stars has proven it in spectacular fashion.