GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Two student-athletes from Florida State have been recognized as Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week following the Seminoles’ road win at 10th-ranked Miami. Pitt also had a pair of players recognized following the Panthers’ victory over visiting Georgia Tech.
Florida State’s Dalvin Cook was named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week for his play in the Seminoles’ 20-19 win, while Seminoles quarterback Deondre Francois earned Rookie of the Week honors.
Pitt’s Brian O’Neill was recognized as the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week, and placekicker Chris Blewitt earned Specialist of the Week honors after his field goal as time expired lifted the Panthers to a 37-34 win over the Yellow Jackets.
Miami’s Stacy Coley was voted the ACC Receiver of the Week. NC State’s Bradley Chubb was honored as Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play in the Wolfpack’s 10-3 win over visiting Notre Dame, while Wake Forest’s Marquel Lee picked up Linebacker of the Week honors after leading the Demon Deacons’ defense in a home-field win over Syracuse. Duke’s Deondre Singleton is the ACC Defensive Back of the Week after making several pivotal plays a 13-6 win over Army West Point.
The ACC Football Player of the Week selections are determined by a vote of a 14-member media panel. Selections are announced via Facebook.com/theACC Mondays at noon by the ACC Digital Network. Be sure to like Facebook.com/theACC and opt in for live alerts to be the first to be notified.
OFFENSIVE BACK – Dalvin Cook, Florida State, Jr., RB, 6-0, 214, Miami, Fla.
Playing in his hometown against No. 10 Miami, Cook had 27 carries for 150 yards in the No. 23 Seminoles’ 20-19 victory over the Hurricanes. He added a 59-yard touchdown reception, which ranked as the longest receiving play of his career and the longest of season for FSU. Cook’s 209 total yards marked his third consecutive game with over 200 yards from scrimmage.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Brian O’Neill, Pitt, So.-r, OT, 6-6, 300, Wilmington, Del.
O’Neill tasted a rare moment of end zone glory and also stood out in the trenches to help lift Pitt to a 37-34 win over Georgia Tech. The Panthers’ starting right tackle, O’Neill scored the game’s first points when he took a designed throwback lateral 24 yards for a touchdown. O’Neill then settled into his more traditional responsibilities and was credited by the coaching staff with spearheading a Pitt offensive front that produced 407 yards (215 rushing and 192 passing). The Panthers’ ability to run the ball netted 5.1 yards per carry.
RECEIVER – Stacy Coley, Miami, Sr., WR, 6-1, 195, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Coley tied a career high with two receiving touchdowns in the Hurricanes’ 20-19 loss to Florida State. He has now caught a touchdown pass in three straight games. Coley finished the night with a team-best seven receptions for 80 yards. The Florida native has caught a pass in 14 straight games, dating back to last year. Coley’s first touchdown came from 21 yards out. His second score came on fourth down from 11 yards out and cut Florida State’s lead to one with 1:41 to go in the game.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Bradley Chubb, NC State, Jr., DE, 6-4, 284, Marietta, Ga.
Chubb tallied five total tackles in Saturday’s 10-3 win over visiting Notre Dame, including three sacks for a combined loss of 13 yards and another half-sack for two yards. Chubb emerged as the leader of a defensive unit that held Notre Dame to just 113 total yards and three points. The Irish’s lone score came on a field goal following a possession in which NC State’s defense actually held Notre Dame to minus-two yards.
LINEBACKER – Marquel Lee, Wake Forest, Sr., LB, 6-3, 240, Waldorf, Md.
Lee was Wake Forest’s defensive star of the game in a 28-9 win over Syracuse. The senior recorded a game-high and career-high 15 tackles, including 12 solo stops. Lee recorded his first multi-quarterback sack game with two for a loss of seven yards. He finished with 5.5 total tackles for loss for minus-12 yards. His 5.5 TFL stands just a half-tackle shy of the school record of 6.0 in one game. Wake Forest held the Orange to 326 total yards. Syracuse entered the game averaging 495 yards and had not been held under 400 yards this season.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Deondre Singleton, Duke, Sr., S, 5-11, 180, Dacula, Ga.
Singleton recorded five tackles, including one for loss, to go with a key interception, fumble recovery and a pass breakup in the Blue Devils’ 13-6 win over Army West Point. Singleton set up Duke’s first touchdown with a fumble recovery at the Army 9-yard line. He then set up Duke’s second score a solo tackle of Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw for a 6-yard loss on fourth-and-one to give the Blue Devils possession at the Black Knights’ 32-yard line. Singleton added three stops on third down, and then sealed Duke’s victory with an interception with 2:17 remaining in the game.
SPECIALIST – Chris Blewitt, Pitt, Sr., PK, 5-9, 185, Alexandria, Va.
Blewitt was perfect on seven placements (three field goals, four PATs) and provided the winning points on a 31-yard field goal as time expired to lift Pitt past Georgia Tech, 37-34. Blewitt accounted for a career-high 13 points in the win and became the Panthers’ all-time career leader in field goals with 52. Blewitt is also Pitt’s all-time kick scoring leader with 315 points. Saturday marked the second consecutive year he provided the winning margin over the Yellow Jackets. Blewitt’s school-record 56-yard field goal in 2015 pushed Pitt past Georgia Tech, 31-28.
ROOKIE – Deondre Francois, Florida State, Fr.-r, QB, 6-2, 205, Orlando, Fla.
After being knocked out of the game for two series, Francois rallied Florida State from a 13-0 deficit to defeat No. 10 Miami, 20-19, on the road. Francois was at his best in the third quarter, completing 10-of-11 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, a 59-yard pass to Dalvin Cook and the 20-yard go-ahead score to Kermit Whitfield. Francois finished the game 20-of-31 for 234 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in leading FSU’s second come-from-behind win away from home versus a Top 11 opponent in his short career. He added 21 rushing yards, including a key 10-yard run on the Seminoles’ final drive that helped seal the victory.
