Tech, UVa. players among ACC Players of the Week

Wake Forest sophomore quarterback Tanner Price headlines a list of eight players announced Monday as the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of the Week. Price threw for 297 yards and one touchdown completing 22 of 35 passes to lead the Deacons to a 34-27 win over NC State in their ACC opener.

Virginia senior kicker Robert Randolph was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goals to help the Cavaliers win on the road at Indiana. Randolph connected from 23 yards with no time remaining in the first half and then made the game-winner, his fourth field goal of the day, from 23 yards out to give Virginia the 34-31 win. Randolph is now a perfect 8-for-8 on the season and is tied for the lead nationally in field goals per game (4.00).

Randolph is joined by teammates Oday Aboushi and Cam Johnson, the winners of the offensive and defensive lineman of the week, respectively. Wake Forest had two players recognized, with linebacker of the week Kyle Wilber and Price picking up honors. Three other schools had one player of the week named, with North Carolina’s Dwight Jones winning receiver of the week, Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller grabbing defensive back of the week, and Clemson’s Sammy Watkins picking up rookie of the week.

OFFENSIVE BACK – Tanner Price, Wake Forest, QB, So., 6-2, 205, Austin, TX

Price, a 6-2, 205-pound sophomore from Austin, TX (Westlake) completed 22 of 35 passes for 297 yards and one touchdown in leading Wake Forest to a 34-27 win over NC State.  Price threw a 31-yard scoring pass to Michael Campanaro in the first quarter to put Wake Forest ahead 7-0.  He completed 10 of 12 passes for 130 yards in the first quarter as Wake Forest built a 10-0 lead.

RECEIVER – Dwight Jones, North Carolina, WR, Sr., 6-4, 225, Burlington, N.C.

Senior wide receiver Dwight Jones finished with six catches for 135 yards and a 66-yard touchdown. It was his second 100-yard game in as many weeks and the sixth of his career.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Oday Aboushi, Virginia, OT, Jr., 6-6, 310, Staten Island, N.Y.

Just three days after attending a reception at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. to honor Muslim-American athletes, Oday Aboushi came up big for UVa’s offensive line in its 34-31 victory at Indiana. Aboushi graded out at 89 percent for the 72 plays he was in on for the Cavaliers. He had 13 knockdown blocks and help Virginia roll up 360 yards of total offense.

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Cam Johnson, Virginia, DE, Sr., 6-4, 270, Washington, D.C.

Made the key play in UVa’s 34-31 win at Indiana. After Virginia battled back to tie the game at 31, Johnson sacked IU quarterback Edward Wright-Baker with 1:13 to play, stripping the ball away and recovering the fumble, to give the Cavaliers possession at the Hoosier’s 14-yard line. That set up Robert Randolph’s game-winning field goal as time expired. Johnson finished the game with three tackles, two for a loss, one sack, one knocked down pass, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three quarterback pressures.

LINEBACKER – Kyle Wilber, Wake Forest, OLB, Sr., 6-5, 240, Apopka, Fla.

Outside linebacker Kyle Wilber, a 6-5, 240-pound redshirt senior from Apopka, Fla (Apopka) recorded seven tackles against NC State including five solo stops and two assists.  He also forced a fumble and had a half-tackle for loss.

DEFENSIVE BACK – Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech, CB, So., 6-0, 187, Baltimore, Md.

Fuller was a lynchpin in a secondary that held the potent East Carolina passing attack to just over 100 yards through the air. Fuller posted a team-high 44 points in coaches’ grading after picking up four tackles, including two for loss, with an interception and a pass break up.

SPECIALIST – Robert Randolph, Virginia, PK, Sr., 5-10, 170, Naples, Fla.

Tied his career high with four field goals including the game winner as time expired from 23 yards. He also connected from 42, 44 and 23 yards. Randolph is now 8-8 this season (which leads the NCAA in accuracy and FGs made) and has been named the national placekicker of the week for the second consecutive week. Randolph has converted 18 of his last 19 kicks dating back to last season.

ROOKIE – Sammy Watkins, Clemson, WR, Fr., 6-1, 200, Fort Myers, Fla.

Watkins gained 196 yards in all-purpose running in Clemson’s 35-27 win over Wofford.  The true freshman had five kickoff returns for 110 yards and added four catches for 56 yards and 3 rushes for 30 yards in an impressive all-around performance. Combined, he had 12 touches for his 196 yards in the game.  The all-purpose total was the most by a Clemson freshman since 2001 when Derrick Hamilton had 205 against Maryland.