Stanford University had five players recognized on the 2025 All-ACC football teams, as announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The selections highlight standout performances from both offensive and defensive players during the season.
Linebacker Matt Rose and tight end Sam Roush were named to the Second Team All-ACC. This brings Stanford’s total to three Second Team honorees since joining the conference. Three other players—Jay Green, Clay Patterson, and CJ Williams—received Honorable Mention recognition.
Rose completed his first season as a starting inside linebacker with significant contributions. He ranked second in the ACC for total tackles with 106, marking the highest tally by a Stanford player since Blake Martinez in 2015. His performance also included eight tackles-for-loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Rose recorded four games with at least ten tackles and finished among the top 25 nationally in tackles.
Roush achieved career highs across several categories this season. He caught 49 passes for 545 yards and scored two touchdowns, leading all ACC tight ends in receiving yards and tying for most receptions at his position within the conference. On a national level, Roush is tied for fourth in receiving yards by tight ends and ranks fifth in receptions. Notably, he became only the eighth Stanford tight end since 1995 to exceed 100 receiving yards in a single game after recording 104 yards against Pittsburgh. Roush also had two receptions of at least 50 yards this season—a feat matched by just four other tight ends nationwide and none else within the ACC.
Green contributed on both run defense and pass coverage despite missing two games. He was fourth on the team with 38 tackles and led Stanford with eight passes defended—the most by any Cardinal since Kyu Blu Kelly’s eleven in 2021—and recovered two fumbles during the year.
Patterson made an immediate impact at the start of the season by forcing a fumble that resulted in a touchdown on Stanford’s first defensive snap. He finished with four sacks to lead the team’s defense this year.
Williams emerged as a consistent receiver for Stanford quarterbacks, collecting 59 catches for 749 yards and six touchdowns. Within ACC rankings, Williams placed seventh in receptions and tenth in receiving yards among receivers; he was one touchdown short of leading all ACC receivers. Williams had four games exceeding 100 receiving yards this season—the first Stanford player to achieve this since J.J. Arcega-Whiteside did so in 2018—and posted three consecutive such games earlier this year, matching feats last accomplished by Alex Smith (2004) and Troy Walters (1999).
The last time Stanford had at least two players named to either first or second team all-conference was in 2022.
