Nov. 24, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. — NC State Quarterback Russell Wilson and Georgia Tech B-Back Jonathan Dwyer headline the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week for the games of Nov. 20 and 22. Wilson threw for 279 yards on Saturday while Dwyer averaged 12.6 yards per rush on Thursday night against Miami. Joining them this week is NC State offensive lineman Meares Green, Clemson Guard Thomas Austin, Florida State Defensive End Everette Brown, Boston College Defensive Back Mark Herzlich, Florida State Kicker Graham Gano and Boston College Quarterback Dominique Davis.

Wilson completed two touchdown passes in NC State’s 41-10 victory over North Carolina to claim Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. The two-touchdown day marked the fifth consecutive game in which Wilson had found a receiver for points. Wilson also extended his string of pass attempts without an interception to 203. Dwyer was the business end of the Georgia Tech rushing attack that ran for 472 yards – fifth most rushing yards in Georgia Tech history. Dwyer had 128 yards on only 10 touches, all in the first half en route to Co-Offensive Back of the Week honors. The ACC’s leading rusher crossed the century mark for rushing yards for the eighth time in ten games.

Green was named Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week as he paved the way for the Wolfpack offense to gain 466 total yards in their 41-10 win over North Carolina. The Wolfpack line allowed only two sacks in the game. Austin also earned Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week honors with a dominating performance at guard in Clemson’s 13-3 win over Virginia. He played every snap, grading out at 86% as Clemson did not allow a sack in the win.

Brown claimed Defensive Lineman of the Week honors as he posted a career-high 3.5 sacks. He also added a career-high 4.5 tackles for loss to raise his national-best total to 20.5 TFL. Brown is the league leader and ranked second nationally in sacks with 12.5. Herzlich was named Defensive Back of the Week with two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown and nine total hits including seven solo tackles. The Eagle junior made his fourth and fifth interceptions of the season to take a share of the team lead in picks.

Gano won his fourth Specialist of the Week honor by booting three field goals in FSU’s 37-3 rout of Maryland on Saturday. Gano was perfect on field goal opportunities, converting from 22, 34 and 48 yards out. He scored 13 points in the game, marking the sixth time this season that the league’s leading scorer has posted double-digit points in the nine games in which he has appeared. Davis won Rookie of the Week honors with a solid performance off the bench as Boston College came back to win the donnybrook over Wake Forest, 24-21. The Eagle redshirt freshman replaced starting quarterback Chris Crane and completed 13-of-23 for 103 yards. He led Boston College’s game-winning drive 70-yards down the field and scored the winning touchdown on a sneak play.

CO-OFFENSIVE BACK—Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, B-Back, 6-0, 228, So., Marietta, Ga.
Dwyer ran for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 10 carries in Georgia Tech’s 41-23 win over No. 23 ranked Miami on Thursday. Dwyer, who sat out most of the second half, helped the Yellow Jackets produce 472 yards of rushing offense – Tech’s highest total in an ACC game. For Dwyer, it was his eighth 100-yard rushing performance of the season and he remains the ACC’s leading rusher (by 13 yards per game).

CO-OFFENSIVE BACK— Russell Wilson, NC State, QB, 5-11, 191, R-Fr., Richmond, Va.
Wilson threw for a career-high 279 yards on 17-of-28 passing and two touchdowns in NC State’s 41-10 win over North Carolina. This was the fifth consecutive game he has thrown for multiple touchdowns, the longest such streak since Philip Rivers threw multiple TDs in six straight games in 2003. Wilson also extended his string of consecutive pass attempts without an interception to 203. Last week, Wilson was honored as ACC Rookie of the Week.

CO-OFFENSIVE LINEMAN—Meares Green, NC State, G/T, 6-4, 306, R-Sr., Wilmington, N.C.
Green led the NC State rushing attack that produced season highs in rushing yards (187), passing yards (279) and total yards (466) in the Pack’s 41-10 win over North Carolina. Green graded out at 82% for the game. The offensive line allowed just two sacks of quarterback Russell Wilson.

CO-OFFENSIVE LINEMAN—Thomas Austin, Clemson, Guard, 6-3, 295, Jr., Camden, S.C.
Austin helped the Clemson offense to a 13-3 victory over Virginia with 11 knockdown blocks in 71 plays. He did not miss a snap and received a grade of 86 percent from the coaching staff. The Tiger offensive line held tough, not allowing a sack in 29 passing attempts.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN— Everette Brown, Florida State, DE, 6-4, 248, Jr., Stantonsburg, N.C.
Brown was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for his dominating performance in FSU’s 37-3 win over Maryland. For the third time this season Brown recorded three or more sacks in a game as he recorded a career-high 3 ½ sacks. He also forced the fumble that linebacker Derek Nicholson scooped up and returned for a TD to put the Seminoles up 14-0. His career-high 4.5 tackles for loss upped his season total to 20.5 which leads the nation in tackles for loss. He is tied for second in the FBS with 12.5 sacks this season.

DEFENSIVE BACK—Mark Herzlich, Boston College, LB, 6-4, 238, Jr., Wayne, Pa.
Herzlich picked off two Riley Skinner passes, returning one 34-yards for a touchdown and setting up an Eagle field goal with the other in Boston College’s 24-21 win over Wake Forest. The junior finished with nine tackles, seven solo, as BC held Wake to 191 net yards of total offense. Herzlich’s interception return for a touchdown marked the sixth consecutive game in which the Eagles have scored a non-offensive touchdown.

SPECIALIST— Graham Gano, Florida State, PK/P, 6-1, 197, Sr., Pensacola, Fla.
Gano was 3-for-3 in field goal attempts in the Seminoles upset win over No. 22 Maryland. Gano improved to 21-for-23 this year in field goals and for the sixth time this year (in nine games played) he had double digit points (13). Gano handled all the kicking for FSU and none of his three punts were returned by Maryland. Gano converted on field goal tries from 22, 34 and 48 yards, respectively.

ROOKIE—Dominique Davis, Boston College, QB, 6-4, 198, R-Fr., Lakeland, Fla.
Davis was forced into action on Saturday when starting Eagle quarterback Chris Crane went down with a broken collarbone. He came in and completed 13-of-23 for 103 yards as Boston College defeated Wake Forest, 24-21. Davis engineered a 9-play, 70-yard drive that included a 36-yard and 21-yard completion. Ultimately, Davis scored the winning touchdown on a QB sneak.