Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper is entering his second season as the starting quarterback. He has been chosen by the media as the ACC Preseason Player of the Year. The same media picked Clemson to win the ACC championship this season. He took time to sit down with theACC.com as he prepares for the start of camp.

Who is better at ping-pong, you or Drew Weatherford?
Drew beat me two games, I got him one game. He's pretty good. It kind of surprised me.

How was your experience at the ACC Kickoff?
I really enjoyed it. We were staying at a great place (at the Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Plantation). They had a lot of fun stuff for us to do. We went down to the driving range and hit it around. We got to know some of the other players. Later that night we had a glow-in-the-dark putting contest which was cool. I had a really good time. The interviews were also a good time. They had it set up very well. Overall it was an enjoyable experience for me.

Why did you choose Clemson?
It was the perfect fit for me. I liked what I saw in Coach (Tommy) Bowden and his coaching staff. I really liked the offense they ran. I also liked that Clemson is a big football school. We've got a huge stadium - over 81,000 fans - and the hill. It's the perfect combination of a big-time football school with a strong academic reputation that was just two hours from my house.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment so far as an athlete?
So far it is being named captain. It is an award chosen by your teammates and it shows the respect my peers have for me. It is a big accomplishment for me. I want my teammates to respect me and know they can look to me as a positive example.

What is your greatest accomplishment off the field?
Getting my degree. I graduated with a business management degree and a minor in law. It is definitely my biggest so far.

What do you still hope to accomplish in the future?
I hope to win an ACC championship at Clemson and play in a BCS bowl game. I hope we have a great season and then that I'm fortunate enough to play at the next level.

What is the best advice you have received from Coach Bowden?
He told me to not pay attention to what other people are saying. At the quarterback position, there is going to be a lot of scrutiny and a lot of criticism. You have to be able to block it out and just worry about the things you can control and not focus on things you can't.

How does it feel have Clemson picked to win the ACC Championship game?
It feels very good. It is an exciting time to be around Clemson. We're working extremely hard right now. With the players we have coming back and the coaching staff, I think it could be an exciting year for us. We have to stay healthy and stay focused and continue doing the things we have been doing.

What are your goals for this season?
Our number one goal is to win the national championship as well as the ACC championship. I want to throw for 3,000 yards and put my team in a position to win. I need to make sure I stay focused and take it game-by-game.

Do you have higher expectations going into this season?
I'm hoping to be an All-American and first-team All-ACC. I also want to lead my team to an ACC championship. We had a good year last year, but you are always trying to improve. I think we have a chance to this year.

How does it feel to be named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year?
It is an awesome honor. I definitely want to back it up and get ACC Player of the Year. It is a credit to my coaches and my teammates. Without them I couldn't get that award. It is quite an honor. You have got to give the glory to God. He's helped me get where I am now. Words can't describe how I feel about it.

Clemson starts its season on August 30 against Alabama in the Georgia Dome. The game can be seen on ABC at 8:00 p.m.