Atlantic Coast Conference Announces Football Players of the Week
Duke leads the way with three selections following win over Georgia Tech
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke leads all schools with three student-athletes receiving Atlantic Coast Conference Football Player of the Week honors following Saturday’s 34-20 Coastal Division victory over 20th ranked Georgia Tech.
The Blue Devils’ Jeremy Cash was recognized as the ACC Defensive Back of the Week, while A.J. Wolf was named the Defensive Lineman of the Week and DeVon Edwards the Specialist of the Week.
Cash was also named the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the Yellow Jackets.
North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky picked up ACC Offensive Back of the Week honors, and his Tar Heel teammate Mack Hollins was selected the Receiver of the Week. NC State’s Joe Thuney was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while Boston College’s Connor Strachan was recognized as the ACC Linebacker of the Week and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson as Freshman of the Week.
ACC Football Players of the Week are selected by a 14-member media panel.
OFFENSIVE BACK – Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, So., QB, 6-3, 220, Mentor, Ohio
Trubisky completed 17 of 20 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns and set a single-game North Carolina record for pass efficiency rating at 282.04 in Saturday’s 41-14 win over Delaware. The previous Tar Heel record was 263.48 by Jason Stanicek vs. Maryland in 1993. Trubisky also ran the ball six times for 39 yards. He set single-game career highs for completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes. Trubisky’s 64-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins in the third quarter was the longest completion of his career.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Joe Thuney, NC State, Sr.-r, OT, 6-5, 295, Centerville, Ohio
Thuney helped pave the way for the Wolfpack to gain 586 total yards, including 330 rushing yards, in Saturday night’s 63-13 road win at South Alabama. Thuney earned a team-high grade of 92 percent while participating on 47 offensive snaps and did not miss an assignment or allow a sack.
RECEIVER – Mack Hollins, North Carolina, Jr., WR, 6-4, 210, Rockville, Md.
Hollins caught three passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 41-14 win over Delaware to earn ACC Receiver of the Week honors for the second time in his career. Hollins now has 10 career touchdown receptions, and Saturday marked his second career two-touchdown game (also 2014 at Virginia). Hollins posted his third career game with 100 or more receiving yards.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – A.J. Wolf, Duke, Jr.-r, DT, 6-4, 270, Greenwich, Conn.
Wolf had eight tackles – six of which limited Georgia Tech rushers to two yards or less – in Saturday’s 34-20 win over the 20th ranked Yellow Jackets. Wolf’s play up front helped limit Georgia Tech to 173 rushing yards – 204 below its season average – and just 2.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Yellow Jackets’ average of 7.3 yards per carry entering the game ranked third nationally. Wolf and the Duke defense also limited Georgia Tech to to a combined 6-of-24 (.250) on third and fourth downs – 5-of-19 on third down and 1-of-5 on fourth down.
LINEBACKER – Connor Strachan, Boston College, So., LB, 6-2, 230, Wellesley, Mass.
Strachan led the Eagles’ defense in tackles for the third game in 2015 with nine in Saturday’s 17-14 victory over Northern Illinois. The sophomore tallied a career-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops, and registered additional career highs with one sack for a loss of nine yards and 2.5 tackles for a loss of 11 yards. Strachan helped the BC defense hold the Huskies to just 72 rushing yards and only 153 total yards, The Eagles continue to own the top-ranking defense in the nation and have yet to allow a team over 100 rushing yards this season.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Jeremy Cash, Duke, Sr.-r, S, 6-2, 210, Miami, Fla.
Cash spearheaded Duke’s defensive effort in Saturday’s 34-20 ACC win over 20th ranked Georgia Tech with 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss and one quarterback sack. Cash forced two fumbles and had four quarterback pressures in earning ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors for the fourth time in his career. Duke held Georgia Tech to 173 rushing yards – 204 below its season average (377.0), which ranked second nationally entering the week – while snapping the Yellow Jackets’ nation’s-best 17-game streak of consecutive outings with 200-plus rushing yards.
SPECIALIST – DeVon Edwards, Duke, Jr.-r, KR, 5-9, 180, Covington, Ga.
Edwards delivered a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at a key point in Saturday’s 34-20 win over Georgia Tech en route to earning his second career ACC Specialist of the Week honor and third conference weekly award overall. Edwards’ runback came with 6:54 remaining in the third quarter immediately following a Georgia Tech touchdown that trimmed Duke’s lead to 19-13. It was his second kickoff return for a touchdown this season and the fifth of his career. Edwards also contributed eight tackles on defense.
ROOKIE – Lamar Jackson, Louisville, Fr., QB, 6-3, 196, Boynton Beach, Fla.
Jackson rushed for 184 yards and two scores while throwing for a career-high 212 yards and another touchdown in Saturday’s 45-3 win over Samford. In his second career start, Jackson scored on runs of 13 and 14 yards and tossed a 36-yard TD pass. His 184 yards rushing are the most in a single game by a Louisville quarterback.