McDaniel named ACC player of the week

by Press Release - Mon Oct 19 13:49:55 GMT-04:00 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Boston College junior running back Montel Harris set a school single-game record with 264 rushing yards in a win over NC State and headlines this week’s list of Atlantic Coast Conference players of the week, announced Monday. Harris also picked up Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors.

Harris is joined offensively by Virginia Tech red-shirt freshman running back Ryan Williams, who is claiming his fifth Rookie of the Week accolade this season. Williams has taken Rookie of the Week honors in back-to-back weeks two times this season. Georgia Tech junior center Sean Bedford joins the list with his second Offensive Lineman of the Week accolade, and Miami junior kicker/punter Matt Bosher is honored as the Specialist of the Week.

Defensively, Virginia senior end Nate Collins and Clemson junior safety DeAndre McDaniel both earned nods for performances in winning efforts.

OFFENSIVE BACK – Montel Harris, Boston College, RB, So., 5-10, 200, Jacksonville, Fla. (Trinity Christian)

Boston College sophomore running back Montel Harris carried the ball 27 times for 264 yards—a Boston College single-game record and the ninth-highest mark in ACC history—and scored five rushing touchdowns for another Eagle single-game record in Boston College’s 52-20 win over NC State. Additionally, Harris’ 264 yards is the most of any player in the nation this season, while his five touchdowns and 30 points also tied national season highs. Harris helped the Eagle offense get on the board early with a two-yard touchdown run that followed a 70-yard scamper to give Boston College a 7-0 lead. In the third quarter, he took credit for every yard of a three-play, 53-yard touchdown drive that included runs of 46, six, and one yards, and scored on another 29-yard run later in the period.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN – Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech, C, Jr., 6-1, 267, Gainesville, Fla. (Buchholz)

Georgia Tech junior center Sean Bedford was honored for the second time this season after a standout performance on an offensive line that helped the Yellow Jackets produce 309 rushing yards in a 28-23 upset win over then fourth-ranked Virginia Tech. After Georgia Tech was limited to 37 rushing yards in the first half, Bedford helped anchor a line that made room for 207 second-half rushing yards, including 157 in the third stanza alone. This season Georgia Tech owns three of the top five team single-game rushing performances in the ACC.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Nate Collins, Virginia, DE, Sr., 6-2, 290, Port Chester, N.Y. (King & Low-Heywood Thomas)

Virginia senior defensive end Nate Collins provided the big play to propel the Cavaliers to their third win with a 20-9 victory over Maryland. Trailing 9-6 with just under two minutes to play in the third quarter, Collins grabbed a Maryland pass tipped by teammate Darren Childs and raced 32 yards for the go-ahead touchdown to give Virginia a 13-9 lead. Later in the fourth quarter on a third down-and-10 from the Maryland nine-yard line, Collins sacked Terrapin quarterback Chris Turner for a loss of seven yards to set up the Cavaliers’ final score. Collins finished the game with a team-high nine tackles, including two for losses, and a sack.

DEFENSIVE BACK – DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson, S, Jr., 6-1, 210, Tallahassee, Fla. (Amos P. Godby)

Clemson junior safety DeAndre McDaniel recorded five tackles and returned his ACC-leading fifth interception of the season 26 yards in the Tigers’ 38-3 win over visiting Wake Forest. McDaniel patrolled the defensive secondary that held the Demon Deacons to 82 passing yards and Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner, the league’s top-rated passer entering the game, to a 57.6 pass efficiency rating. This season McDaniel leads the ACC with five interceptions and is fourth with 50 tackles.

SPECIALIST – Matt Bosher, Miami, K/P, Jr., 6-5, 205, Jupiter, Fla. (Jupiter)

Miami junior kicker/punter Matt Bosher converted all three of his point-after-touchdown attempts and connected on two field goals in the Hurricanes’ 27-7 win against UCF. Bosher had a season-long 46-yard field goal in the third quarter that extended Miami’s lead to 20-7. He also extended his streak to 62 straight PATs. Additionally, he punted four times and averaged 33.2 yards per punt, while three of his kicks were downed inside UCF’s 20-yard line.

ROOKIE – Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech, RB, Fr. 5-9, 205, Manassas, Va. (Stonewall Jackson)

Virginia Tech freshman running back Ryan Williams rushed for 100 yards for the fifth time this season—a Hokie freshman record—in a 28-23 loss to 19th-ranked Georgia Tech. Despite limited practice time during the week due to illness, Williams amassed an even 100 yards on 14 carries (7.1 yards per carry) and scored on a season-high 66-yard run in the third quarter to bring the Hokies to within four points of Georgia Tech at 14-10. Williams later caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyrod Taylor that again put the Hokies within striking distance of the Jackets. In the process, Williams also scored his 10th and 11th touchdowns of the season, also tying a Virginia Tech record for first-year players.