BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech defensive end James Gayle, linebacker Bruce Taylor and cornerback Kyle Fuller were named to the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason all-conference football team Wednesday.

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd beat out Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas as the preseason all-conference QB, in a vote by media members. Thomas had 16 votes to Boyd’s 29.

Thomas finished second to Boyd’s teammate, Clemson sophomore wide receiver Sammy Watkins, earlier in the week for preseason player of the year honors.

Defensively, Tech’s Gayle got the second most votes at defensive end (31), behind Florida State’s Brandon Jenkins (59).

Gayle, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior from Hampton, was a second-team All-ACC selection last year after recording 38 tackles, 12 ½ for losses, and seven sacks.

At linebacker, Taylor, a senior who is coming off a foot injury, made the preseason team with second most votes (42) at the position, behind UNC’s Kevin Reddick (49).

Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 253-pound senior from Riceboro, Ga., was an honorable mention to the All-ACC team last year, despite missing the last four games due to the injury. Taylor finished with 53 tackles and five sacks in eight games.

At cornerback, North Carolina State’s David Amerson (63) was a runaway first choice. VT’s Fuller (25) edged FSU’s Xavier Rhodes (21) for the second corner spot.

Fuller, a 6-foot, 188-pound junior from Baltimore, was a second-team All-ACC pick after last year, when he had 65 tackles and two interceptions.

Virginia Tech junior center Andrew Miller was a distant second to Clemson’s Dalton Freeman at center. Freeman got 58 votes. Miller had six.