ACC Announces Football Players of the Week
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 select media panel. The following are this week’s honorees:
QUARTERBACK – Kenny Pickett, Pitt, Sr., QB, Oakhurst, N.J.
Threw for 389 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday’s 52-21 win over Georgia Tech • Completed 64% of his passes (23 of 36) and did not throw an interception • Set Pitt school record with 15 touchdown passes over the last three games (Dan Marino held the old mark with 13 over three games in 1981) • Pickett’s three straight games with at least four passing touchdowns is the longest streak by an ACC quarterback since NC State’s Russell Wilson in 2009 • Pickett and the Pitt offense currently lead the nation in scoring (52.4 points per game).
RUNNING BACK – Kobe Pace, Clemson, So., RB, Cedartown, Ga.
Rushed 18 times for a career-high 125 yards and one touchdown in Saturday night’s 19-13 win over Boston College • Added 41 receiving yards on two receptions and 44 return yards on two kickoff returns • The 210 all-purpose yards marked Clemson’s first 200-yard all-purpose performance since Travis Etienne against Boston College a year ago.
RECEIVER – Josh Downs, North Carolina, So., WR, Suwanee, Ga.
Earned second ACC Receiver of the Week honor of the season following a game-high 168 receiving yards and a 63-yard receiving touchdown in Saturday’s 38-7 win over Duke • Based on available records, became the first Tar Heel in program history to catch a touchdown pass in each of his first five games of a season • Added 36 punt return yards for 204 all-purpose yards against the Blue Devils.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Gabe Houy, Pitt, Sr., OT, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Spearheaded a Pitt offense that piled up 52 points and 580 total yards in the 52-21 win at Georgia Tech • Panthers’ top-graded offensive lineman, allowing zero sacks and zero pressures for a passing game that produced 399 yards • Also manned the point of attack for the majority of Pitt’s 181 rushing yards.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Mandy Alonso, Virginia, Sr., DE, Miami, Fla.
Made a huge impact in Virginia’s 30-28 victory over Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, the Cavaliers' first win at Miami since the 2011 season • Registered five tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss • His tackle of a Miami ball-carrier in the end zone resulted in a safety and an early 9-0 Virginia lead in the game • Picked by UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall for the team’s postgame “Break the Rock” ceremony in the locker room.
LINEBACKER – John Petrishen, Pitt, Sr., LB, Lower Burrell, Pa.
Made a crucial early play that started Pitt’s onslaught in the 52-21 win over Georgia Tech • With Pitt leading 7-0 in the opening period, Petrishen snared an errant pass and raced 33 yards for a score and 14-0 lead • Petrishen also registered five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Traveon Redd, Wake Forest, Sr., S, Martinsville, Va.
Registered a team-high 11 tackles and one forced fumble in Saturday’s 37-34 win over Louisville • One of two turnovers forced by the Demon Deacons on the afternoon • Redd and the Wake Forest defense have forced 13 turnovers on the season, which is tied for sixth in the country.
SPECIALIST – Trenton Gill, NC State, Gr., P, Hillsborough, N.C.
Punted six times for an average of 51.2 yards in Saturday night’s 34-27 win over Louisiana Tech • Four punts traveled at least 50 yards, including his first three of the game • Final punt of 53 yards forced the Bulldogs to start their final drive from their own 11-yard line with 2:56 left • Five punts pinned Louisiana Tech inside its 25-yard line, including a pair inside the 20 • Six of seven kickoffs went for touchbacks, and the Bulldogs started from their own 26 on the one that was returned.
ROOKIE – Justice Ellison, Wake Forest, Fr., RB, Ashburn, Va.
Rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries in Saturday’s 37-34 win over Louisville • Has now found the end zone in three consecutive games, rushing for a touchdown in conference wins over Florida State, Virginia and Louisville • Helped a Wake Forest offense that ran the ball for 177 yards on 44 carries in Saturday’s game.
