Nov. 10, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Virginia Tech Running Back Darren Evans and Boston College Safety Paul Anderson headline the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week. Evans ran for a school-record 253 yards and a touchdown on Thursday night while Anderson had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, against Notre Dame on Saturday. Joining them this week are Florida State Offensive Lineman Rodney Hudson, Florida State Defensive Lineman Neefy Moffett, Boston College Linebacker Mark Herzlich, Boston College Safety Paul Anderson, Florida State Kicker Graham Gano and Wake Forest Running Back Brandon Pendergrass.

Virginia Tech’s Evans ran 32 times for 253 yards on Thursday night to claim the Offensive Back of the Week award. He added two catches for 20 yards to tally 273 all-purpose yards in the 23-13 win over Maryland. Anderson was named Defensive Back of the Week with a pair of interceptions that helped keep Notre Dame scoreless on Saturday night. He recorded a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown, which is the longest interception return in the ACC this season.

Hudson claimed Offensive Lineman of the Week honors for the third time this season as he anchored the Florida State offensive line in the Seminoles’ 41-27 win over Clemson. FSU rushed for 266 yards in the game. Moffett had an interception return for a touchdown to claim Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He also had a sack and two tackles for Seminoles. Boston College’s Herzlich was also named Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week with 11 tackles, 10 solos, in the 17-0 win over Notre Dame.

Florida State’s Gano was named Specialist of the Week as he went 2-for-2 on field goals in FSU’s 41-27 win over Clemson. His three-pointers from 52 and 37 extended his consecutive field goals streak to 17 straight and kept his streak of five straight games with a 50+ yard field goal alive. This is Gano’s third specialist of the week honor. Wake Forest’s Pendergrass captured Rookie of the Week honors with his first career 100 yard rushing game. His 110 yards on 27 attempts helped the Deacons to a 28-17 win over Virginia.

OFFENSIVE BACK—Darren Evans, Virginia Tech, RB, 6-0, 215, r-Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.
Evans ran for a school-record 253 yards on 32 carries in Tech's 23-13 win over No. 23 Maryland on Thursday night at Lane Stadium. He also caught two passes for 20 yards for 273 all-purpose yards. Evans ripped off runs of 50 and 45 yards en route to breaking the record. He also broke 12 tackles and scored a touchdown, his ninth of the season.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN—Rodney Hudson, Florida State, OT, 6-2, 290, S., Mobile, Ala.
Hudson once again recorded the best grade on the line as he helped FSU rush for 266 yards and three TDs against Clemson. Hudson led the team for the fifth time in nine games with an 89% grade overall and an unprecedented 98% grade versus the run. He had two knockdowns and in 40 run plays he received a passing grade 39 times. The 266 yards rushing by the FSU offense marked the third-highest rushing total of the season for the Seminoles and the fourth time overall FSU has eclipsed 200 yards on the ground.

CO-DEFENSIVE LINEMAN— Neefy Moffett, Florida State, DT, 6-1, 255, Sr., Palm Bay, Fla.
Moffett only recorded two tackles in the game, but his game-tying 18-yard interception return touchdown knotted the score at 10-10. The interception return for points was the first by a FSU interior lineman in almost two decades. Moffett also recorded his third sack of the season when he dropped Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper for a 13-yard loss. Overall, Moffett and the Seminole defensive line limited the Tigers to a total of 79 yards rushing combined.

Mark Herzlich, Boston College, LB, 6-4, 238, Jr., Wayne, Pa.
Herzlich recorded 11 tackles, 10 solos, and three pass breakups in the Eagles’ 17-0 win over Notre Dame. The junior linebacker was instrumental in Boston College’s first shutout win over the Irish in series history and the first time that Notre Dame has been held scoreless this season. The Eagles forced five turnovers and held the Notre Dame rushing attack to just 66 yards rushing, their second lowest total of the season.

DEFENSIVE BACK—Paul Anderson, Boston College, SS, 6-11, 211, Sr., Staten Island, N.Y.
Anderson picked off two passes, returning one for 76 yards for a touchdown and intercepting another in the endzone as the Eagles shutout Notre Dame, 17-0 on Saturday. The interception return was the longest of his career and his first defensive touchdown. The Eagles now have three interception returns for over 60-yards, two for touchdowns.

SPECIALIST— Graham Gano, Florida State, PK/P, 6-1, 197, Sr., Pensacola, Fla.
Gano handled the placekicking and punting duties on Saturday against Clemson, kicking a total of 18 times in the 41-27 win over the Tigers. He made his 16th and 17th consecutive field goals from 52 and 37 to extend his streak of consecutive games with a 50+ yard field goal to five. His hang time on eight kickoffs and three punts held Clemson to only 87 yards on returns.

ROOKIE— Brandon Pendergrass, Wake Forest, RB, 5-9, 200, R-Fr., Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
Pendergrass posted his first career 100-yard rushing game with 110 yards on a career-high 27 carries against Virginia on Saturday. Pendergrass rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run that put the Deacons ahead 21-3 late in the second quarter. During that touchdown drive, Pendergrass rushed for 59 yards including a 19-yard gain to the Virginia nine-yard line.