Spiller, Austin Named ACC Players of the Week

by Press Release - Mon Nov 03 14:12:10 GMT-04:00 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Miami freshman quarterback Jacory Harris, Clemson Running Back C.J. Spiller and Wake Forest Cornerback Alphonso Smith headline the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week for the games of Nov. 1.

Harris threw the game-tying and game-winning TD passes in Miami’s 24-17 overtime win over Virginia, completing 12 of 21 passes for 160 yards, to claim his third ACC Rookie-of-the-Week honor. Spiller had 242 all-purpose yards in Clemson’s 27-21 win over Boston College while Smith had two interceptions, two tackles and a punt block for a safety in Wake Forest’s 33-30 overtime win over Duke.

Joining them this week are Clemson Offensive Lineman Thomas Austin, Wake Forest Defensive Lineman Boo Robinson, Georgia Tech Defensive Lineman Michael Johnson and Wake Forest Placekicker Shane Popham.

Clemson’s Spiller caught six passes for 105 yards to claim the Offensive Back of the Week award. He also had a 64-yard kickoff return and an 18-yard punt return to go with 55 yards rushing on the day. Smith was named Defensive Back of the Week after his interception in overtime preserved Wake’s victory. He was also responsible for a safety, blocking a punt which went out of the endzone for two points.

Austin claimed Offensive Lineman of the Week honors as he anchored the Clemson offensive line at Guard and Center in the Tigers’ win over Boston College. He did not allow a sack as the Tigers’ rushing attack ran for five yards per rush on 21 attempts. Robinson had nine tackles to claim Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He also had a tackle for loss in the win. Georgia Tech’s Johnson was also named Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week. His sack and forced fumble of Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder set the table for a Yellow Jacket touchdown drive in the Jackets 31-28 win over the 16th ranked Seminoles.

Wake Forest’s Popham was named Specialist of the Week as he went 3-for-3 on field goals in Wake Forest’s 33-30 overtime win over Duke. Popham’s 28-yarder on the first possession of overtime proved to be the game winner when a turnover ended the Blue Devil threat

OFFENSIVE BACK—C.J. Spiller, Clemson, Running Back, 5-11, 190, Jr., Lake Butler, Fla.

Spiller had 242 all-purpose yards to lead the way in Clemson’s 27-21 win over Boston College. The junior had six receptions out of the backfield for 105 yards, a Clemson record for reception yards by a running back in a single game. Spiller also had 8 carries for 55 yards, a 64-yard kickoff return that changed the momentum of the game in the fourth period and led to Clemson’s winning touchdown. He also added an 18-yard punt return. His 242 all-purpose running yards were the 11th most in Clemson history and the fourth most by a Clemson player in the 21st century.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN—Thomas Austin, Clemson, OG/C, 6-3, 295, Jr. Camden, S.C.

Austin graded 82 percent with five knockdowns and did not allow a sack in playing two different positions in Clemson’s win over Boston College. Austin had started the first seven games at center, he moved to left guard for the Boston College game. Austin played all 69 snaps, 60 at guard and nine at center in the victory. Clemson running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller both combined to average five yards a rush on 21 carries, and the Tigers had three different drives of at least 70 yards in claiming the victory, the program’s first against Boston College in 50 years.

CO-DEFENSIVE LINEMAN—Boo Robinson, Wake Forest, DL, 6-2, 325, R-Jr., Monroe, La.

Robinson led all of Wake’s defensive linemen with nine tackles including two solos and seven assists in the Deacon’s 33-30 overtime win over Duke. Robinson also recorded a tackle for loss of one yard. Wake’s defensive front held the Blue Devils to 112 yards rushing in the win.

Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech, DE, 6-7, 260, Sr., Selma, Ala.

Johnson sacked Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder for a loss of 10 yards and forced a fumble in the process in Georgia Tech’s 31-28 win over 16th ranked Florida State. The Yellow Jackets recovered the fumble and went on to score a touchdown on the next possession. He also added a solo tackles in the game. Johnson's effort put him in the top 10 in the ACC in sacks and tackles-for-loss.

DEFENSIVE BACK—Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest, CB, 5-9, 190, R-Sr., Pahokee, Fla.

Smith had two interceptions, a blocked punt and a pair of tackles in Wake Forest’s 33-30 overtime win over Duke. Smith’s first interception of the day came with 12:44 remaining in the third quarter and led to a touchdown that gave Wake Forest a 19-7 lead. His second interception came in overtime and sealed the Deacon win. Smith’s blocked punt came with 1:59 to play in the first quarter and went out of the end zone for a safety to give Wake Forest a 9-7 lead. Smith is now second all-time in the ACC in career interceptions with 19, one shy of the league record.

SPECIALIST—Shane Popham, Wake Forest, PK, 5-11, 192, R-Fr., Crestview Hills, Ky.

Popham, a redshirt freshman, booted a career-high three field goals and scored 11 points in Wake Forest’s 33-30 win over Duke. Popham hit from 24 and 44 yards in regulation and added a 28-yarder in overtime to provide Wake Forest’s winning points. Popham was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day in field goal attempts after going 3-for-8 in field goal attempts in three games since replacing the injured Sam Swank.

ROOKIE—Jacory Harris, Miami, Quarterback, 6-4, 185, Fr., Miami, Fla.

Harris rallied the Hurricanes on the road at Virginia throwing two touchdowns – a game-tying TD in the final minutes of regulation and the go-head score in overtime as Miami defeated the Cavaliers, 24-17, in overtime. He completed 12-of-21 passes (57.1 percent) for 160 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second time in three weeks that Harris rallied the Hurricanes on the road in helping push their winning streak to four games. A Miami quarterback has captured the Rookie of the Week Award in each of the past three weeks with Harris winning it twice and Robert Marve taking the award last week.