GREENSBORO,
N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the
Week have been recognized following their standout performances in last
weekend’s games.
The selections are determined by a vote of a 15-member media
panel. The following are this week’s honorees:
QUARTERBACK – Sam Howell,
North Carolina, Fr., QB, Indian Trail, N.C.
Equaled the school record with five touchdown passes as the
Tar Heels came out on the short end of a 43-41 six-overtime thriller at
Virginia Tech • Passed for more than 300 yards for the third time in the last
four games • Finished 26 of 49 for 348 yards • ACC Quarterback of the Week
honor is his third of the season.
RUNNING BACK – David
Bailey, Boston College, So., RB, Ridgley, Md.
Had the best performance of his young career with 182 rushing
yards in the Eagles’ 45-24 win over NC State • Scored on touchdown runs of 54
and 48 yards, while averaging 11.3 yards per carry • The 182 rushing yards
were a career high, and the 54-yard run was the longest of his career • Led a
BC rushing attack that ran for 429 yards against an NC State defense that
ranked No. 5 nationally defending the run and had allowed just 400 total yards
rushing prior to Saturday’s game.
RECEIVER – Sage Surratt, Wake
Forest, So., WR, Lincolnton, N.C.
Recognized as ACC Receiver of the Week for the second
consecutive week and the fourth time this season following his performance in
the Deacons’ 22-20 win over Florida State • Caught seven passes for 170 yards,
marking his FBS-leading fourth game of the year with more than 150 receiving
yards • Had five receptions for first downs • Four of those catches were for 27
or more yards (27, 31, 36 and 51 yards) • Had five receptions for 150
yards in the first half alone.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Zion
Johnson, Boston College, Jr., OG, Bowie, Md.
Made his first career start in the Eagles’ 45-24 win over NC
State • Graded out as the team’s top offensive lineman (94 percent) and totaled
six knockdown blocks • Did not yield a quarterback hurry in pass protection,
keying an offensive line that combined to allow zero pressures on 16 pass plays
and paved the way for BC runners to rush for 429 yards.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Justin
Foster, Clemson, Jr., DE, Shelby, N.C.
Led Clemson’s defensive line with 3.5 tackles for loss and
five total tackles in Saturday’s 45-10 win over Louisville • His performance
included a career-high 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble.
LINEBACKER – Rayshard Ashby,
Virginia Tech, Jr., LB, Chesterfield, Va.
Led Virginia Tech’s defense with 17 total tackles – including
four solo stops in the Hokies’ 43-41 six-overtime win over North Carolina • The
17 tackles matched the single-game high for an ACC player this season • Total included
a half-sack and 2.0 tackles for loss • Also had a quarterback hurry in the game
• Honored as ACC Linebacker of the Week for the third time this season.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Joey Blount,
Virginia, Jr., FS, Atlanta, Ga.
Had 10 tackles and returned an interception for 20 yards in
UVA’s 48-14 victory over Duke • His interception led to the Cavaliers’ final
touchdown of the game • Helped lead a UVA defense that held the Blue Devils to
73 yards of total offense in the first half and forced four three-and-outs •
Duke finished with just 250 yards and was 2 of 14 on third-down conversions •
The Blue Devils had just one play longer than 15 yards in the contest.
CO-SPECIALIST – Pressley
Harvin III, Georgia Tech, Jr., P, Alcolu, S.C.
Threw a perfect pass on a fake punt for a 41-yard touchdown
that was a key play in Georgia Tech’s 28-21 overtime win over Miami • Facing
fourth-and-7 in the first quarter, he took the snap in punt formation and hit
gunner Nathan Cottrell in stride down the right sideline for a touchdown to
knot the game at 14-14 • Also punted six times for a 45.5-yard average,
including a 57-yarder.
CO-SPECIALIST – Nick Sciba,
Wake Forest, So., PK, Clover, S.C.
Tied the school record with five field goals as Wake Forest
defeated Florida State for the first time since 2011 • Hit first-quarter field
goals from 21 and 25 yards and added second-quarter field goals from 25 and 27
yards • In the midst of a fourth-quarter rainstorm, he connected on a
25-yard field goal with 4:18 remaining for what proved to be the winning 22-20
margin • Sciba is a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals this season and owns
the nation’s longest streak of consecutive field goals made at 23.
ROOKIE – Quincy Patterson
II, Virginia Tech, R-Fr., QB, Chicago, Ill.
Led the Hokies on offense for much of the second half and all
six overtime periods of a 43-41 win over visiting North Carolina •
Finished the game with career bests in completions and yards, while also
throwing his first career touchdown • Ran the ball 21 times for 122 yards,
including a game-tying 53-yard run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter • Also
scored the game-winning conversion in the sixth overtime period.
Howell, Surratt Headline Week 8 ACC Football Players of the Week
