GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has accounted for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the Cardinals’ first two games, leads the ACC Football Players of Week for September 12.
The honor adds to a growing list for Jackson, who was named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row after leading Louisville to a 62-28 victory at Syracuse on Friday night. Jackson is only the second student-athlete to repeat as Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week since the award originated in 2004.
Two Wake Forest players were recognized for their play in Saturday’s conference road win at Duke, as redshirt junior defensive end Duke Ejiofor picked up ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors, while freshman running back Cade Carney was voted the Rookie of the Week.
Pitt also had a pair of players recognized following its win over rival Penn State, as Ryan Lewis was named the Defensive Back of the Week and Quadree Henderson the Specialist of the Week.
North Carolina senior center Lucas Crowley was voted the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, while UNC sophomore Andre Smith was named the Linebacker of the Week following their play in the Tar Heels’ road win at Illinois.
Florida State junior Travis Rudolph is the Receiver of the Week following his performance in Saturday’s win over Charleston Southern.
ACC Football Player of the Week selections are determined by a vote of a 14-member media panel.
OFFENSIVE BACK – Lamar Jackson, Louisville, So., QB, 6-3, 204, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Jackson followed up his big numbers from week one by accounting for an ACC-record 610 yards from scrimmage in Friday night’s 62-28 win at Syracuse. The sophomore rushed for 199 yards while setting a school record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with four. Jackson also completed 20-of-39 passes for a career-best 411 yards and one touchdown — including a 72-yard touchdown pass to James Quick on the first play of the game. He became the first player in FBS history to pass for 400 yards and rush for 175 yards in a game. Jackson currently ranks second nationally in total offense with an average of 507 yards per game, and has accounted for 13 touchdowns (six rushing, seven passing) to lead the Cardinals’ 2-0 start.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Lucas Crowley, North Carolina, Sr., C, 6-3, 290, Ponte Verda, Fla.
Crowley graded out at 87 percent, had nine knockdown blocks and did not allow a sack in Saturday night’s 48-23 road victory at Illinois. Carolina had 462 total yards of offense and rushed for 5.3 yards per carry. Crowley’s work helped pave the way for four rushing touchdowns – two apiece by UNC running back Elijah Hood and quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky also found time to complete 19 of 24 passes.
RECEIVER – Travis Rudolph, Florida State, Jr., WR, 6-1, 192, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Rudolph tallied his third career 100-yard receiving game and his second multi-touchdown game with 105 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns – all in the first half of FSU’s 52-8 win over Charleston Southern. Both touchdowns came in the first quarter – a 36-yarder to open the scoring and a 21-yarder to make the score 21-0. In all three of Rudolph’s career 100-yard receiving games, he has tallied 100-plus yards in a half. He has scored a receiving touchdown in each of the past three games.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest, Jr.-r, DE, 6-4, 270, Houston, Texas
Ejiofor made seven total tackles, including four solo stops with three assists, in Wake Forest’s 24-14 win over Duke on Saturday. Ejiofor finished one sack shy of the school single-game record, collecting three total sacks and four total tackles for loss. He forced two fumbles, recovered one, and had a pair of quarterback hurries. Wake Forest held Duke to just 37 yards rushing, the fewest by a Wake Forest opponent since the Deacons held Boston College to 12 yards on the ground in 2012.
LINEBACKER – Andre Smith, North Carolina, So.-r, MLB, 6-0, 240, Jacksonville, Fla.
Smith had a career-high 14 tackles, including eight solo and six assists in the Tar Heels’ 48-23 win at Illinois on Saturday night. He also had a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Three of his tackles came on third down to force punts. His previous high was 11 tackles in a win last season at Pittsburgh. Smith was part of a defensive unit that limited Illinois to 309 yards, including just 127 in the air on 35 pass attempts. UNC limited Illinois to just 3.6 yards per pass attempt.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Ryan Lewis, Pitt, Sr.-r, CB, 6-0, 200, Seattle, Wash.
Lewis joined a long list of Pitt players to make unforgettable plays in the historic Penn State series, which resumed on Saturday with a 42-39 win by the Panthers at Heinz Field. With the Nittany Lions threatening at the Pitt 31 with 1:15 to play, Lewis intercepted a pass by Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley in the end zone, ending both the drive and the game. In addition to his interception, Lewis added a game-high nine tackles, all solo.
SPECIALIST – Quadree Henderson, Pitt, So., WR/KR, 5-8, 190, Wilmington, Del.
Henderson compiled 201 all-purpose yards, making big plays as a runner, receiver and returner in the Panthers’ win over Penn State. His biggest play came in the kick-return game after Penn State closed to within four points early in the fourth quarter. Henderson responded on the subsequent kickoff with an 84-yard return down to the Penn State 10. Pitt scored a touchdown three plays later to go up 42-31, providing enough cushion to hold off the Nittany Lions. Henderson also averaged 14.5 yards per rush (four carries for 58 yards) and three catches for 47 yards, including a 7-yard TD. Henderson leads the nation in kick-return average (53.5 yards per return) and is sixth in all-purpose yards (206 per game).
ROOKIE – Cade Carney, Wake Forest, Fr., RB, 5-11, 215, Advance, N.C.
Carney had the biggest game of his brief collegiate career when he scored three touchdowns and rushed for 108 yards in Wake Forest’s 24-14 win at Duke. Carney, who carried the ball 17 times, scored on a 7-yard run in the second quarter to tie the game at 7-7. He scored on a 1-yard run in the third to put Wake Forest ahead 14-7. After Duke again tied the game, Carney burst for a 55-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to put Wake Forest ahead 21-14. Carney became the first Wake Forest true freshman to score three touchdowns in a game since Chris Barclay had three against Purdue in 2002. He was also the first Deacon running back to go over 100 yards rushing since 2012.
