GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Syracuse, Florida State and Pitt each had two-student athletes recognized as Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week following league wins on Saturday.
North Carolina and Louisville, which also posted key ACC victories, each had one player recognized.
Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey was named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week after keying the Orange to a 31-17 upset of No. 17 Virginia Tech. The Orange’s Zaire Franklin is the ACC Linebacker of the Week.
Florida State’s Travis Rudolph was voted the ACC Receiver of the Week, while quarterback Deondre Francois picked up Rookie of the Week honors following the Seminoles’ win over Wake Forest.
Pitt, which defeated Virginia on the road, saw strong safety Jordan Whitehead voted ACC Defensive Back of the Week, while Quadree Henderson earned the nod as the Specialist of the Week.
North Carolina center Lucas Crowley was voted the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after leading the blocking in the Tar Heels’ road win at No. 16 Miami, while Louisville’s Drew Bailey was tabbed the Defensive Lineman of the Week for his play in the Cardinals’ win over Duke.
The ACC Rookie of the Week recognition is the third of the season for Florida State’s Francois. FSU’s Rudolph, UNC’s Crowley, Syracuse’s Franklin and Pitt’s Henderson were each honored for the second time.
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 – Eric Dungey, Syracuse, So., QB, 6-3, 207, Lake Oswego, Ore.
Dungey finished with a career-high 417 yards of total offense and became the first player in school history to throw for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game in the Orange’s 31-17 upset of No. 17 Virginia Tech. Dungey was 28-of-53 passing for 311 yards and a touchdown. He rushed 24 times for a career-best 106 yards and another score. It marked Dungey’s fifth 300-yard passing game of 2016, one shy of the Syracuse single-season record. His 1-yard TD plunge with 7:56 remaining proved the difference in Syracuse’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2012.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Lucas Crowley, North Carolina, Sr., C, 6-3, 290, Ponte Vedra, Fla.
Crowley graded out at 90 percent, had 12 knockdown blocks and did not allow a sack as the Tar Heels posted 461 total yards of offense in a 20-13 victory at No. 16 Miami. Crowley’s efforts helped UNC hold nearly a six-minute edge in time of possession and have success moving the ball against a Hurricanes unit that entered the game ranked 10th nationally in total defense.
RECEIVER – Travis Rudolph, Florida State, Jr., WR, 6-1, 192, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Rudolph totaled career highs in receptions (13) and receiving yards (238) in the Seminoles’ 17-6 win over Wake Forest. His receiving yardage ranks as the fifth most by any player in the nation in a game this season, and his reception total was the most by any Power 5 player this past weekend. Rudolph’s 13 receptions tied for fifth-most in a single game in FSU history, and his 238 yards are the fourth most in one game by a Seminole. WATCH HERE
DEFENSIVE LINE – Drew Bailey, Louisville, Jr., DL, 6-5, 285, Poplarville, Miss.
Bailey recorded a career-best 11 tackles in last Friday night’s 24-14 win over visiting Duke, the most tackles by a Cardinal defensive lineman since Elvis Dumervil totaled 11 in 2005 versus Kentucky. Bailey was credited with seven solo tackles and three tackles for loss as Louisville held the Blue Devils to 110 yards on the ground and 239 yards of total offense.
LINEBACKER – Zaire Franklin, Syracuse, Jr., LB, 6-0, 230, Philadelphia, Pa.
Syracuse’s defensive game captain, Franklin recorded his third double-digit tackle game in the last four outings with 10 stops, including one for a loss, in the Orange’s upset of Virginia Tech. Eight of his tackles were solo stops. During one second-quarter drive, Franklin stuffed Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans for no gain on third-and-1 at the Syracuse 38. Then, on fourth down, Franklin threw Evans for a loss of two yards to end the drive. Franklin is averaging 10.8 tackles per game over the last four weeks and leads the Orange with 7.5 tackles for loss this season.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Jordan Whitehead, Pitt, So., SS, 5-11, 190, Aliquippa, Pa.
Whitehead’s 59-yard interception return at the end of the first half gave Pitt the lead for keeps in the Panthers’ 45-31 win at Virginia. Pitt had just tied the score at 28 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter when the Cavaliers took over, looking to add points before intermission. Whitehead stepped in front of a Kurt Benkert pass at the Pitt 41, cut to the opposite sideline and then back to the middle for a touchdown with only four seconds remaining on the first-half clock. Whitehead, who also started on offense, had three rushes for 28 yards (9.3 avg.) and totaled four tackles.
SPECIALIST – Quadree Henderson, Pitt, So., WR, 5-8, 190, Wilmington, Del.
Henderson once again showcased his explosive skills with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Saturday’s 45-31 road win at Virginia. He added a 29-yard punt return to the Virginia 39 in the fourth quarter that set up the Panthers’ final score. Henderson finished with 112 yards on two kick returns (56.0 avg.), 46 yards on three punt returns (15.3 avg.) and 164 total all-purpose yards. Henderson has two kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and three over his last eight games. He is the only FBS player with multiple kickoff return for touchdowns this season. Henderson’s 35.9-yard kickoff return average leads the ACC and ranks third nationally.
ROOKIE – Deondre Francois, Florida State, Fr.-r, QB, 6-2, 217, Orlando, Fla.
Francois threw for 319 yards on 22-of-37 passing with one touchdown and added a rushing touchdown in the Seminoles’ 17-6 victory over Wake Forest. His 11-yard scoring strike to Auden Tate with 7:32 remaining in the game pushed Florida State’s lead to 11 points and gave the Seminoles a bit of breathing room in the defensive battle.
