The 1958 All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) football team is a roster of American college football players recognized as the best performers at their respective positions within the ACC for the 1958 season. Selections were traditionally made by major news organizations—most notably the Associated Press (AP) and the United Press International (UPI)—and sometimes by the conference’s coaches. The chosen athletes represented the leading programs of the era, which included Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Wake Forest, and North Carolina State.
Selection process
- Selectors: The AP and UPI each compiled their own All‑ACC teams, designating first‑team (and often second‑team) honors. Some lists also incorporated input from ACC coaches.
- Criteria: Selections were based on individual performance during the regular season, contributions to team success, statistical achievements, and overall impact on the field.
Typical composition (as reflected in contemporaneous All‑Conference lists)
- Offense: Ends, tackles, guards, center, quarterback, halfbacks, fullback.
- Defense (when separate defensive teams were published): Defensive ends, tackles, linebackers, defensive backs.
Historical context
- The 1958 season marked a period of competitive balance in the ACC, with several teams contending for the conference championship.
- Recognized players from this era often went on to professional careers in the National Football League (NFL) or the Canadian Football League (CFL), and some later earned induction into their respective college’s Hall of Fame.
Limitations of available information
Specific player names and positional assignments for the 1958 All‑ACC team are documented in period newspaper archives and specialized sports reference works. Comprehensive, verifiable rosters are not included here due to the constraints of this summary and the need to avoid speculative listing without authoritative citation. Researchers seeking the detailed first‑team selections should consult contemporary AP and UPI releases, ACC archival publications, or reputable sports history databases.
