We are starting to see more and more familiar names on a weekly basis when it comes to award lists, or in this case the ACC Players of the Week for week 10. The cream is rising to the top as the season inches to the final weeks.
Quarterback of the Week
Once again, it’s Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes. All he did was go 25 of 41 for 400 yards and five touchdown passes in the win over Duke. The Canes generated 527 yards of total offense and scored 50 points or more for the fifth time this season. This is Ward’s sixth ACC Quarterback of the Week nod this season.
Running Back of the Week
UNC’s Omarion Hampton had a huge game in the win over Florida State. He rushed for 172 yards and four touchdowns and also had three catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. The rushing yards put him over the 3,000-yard mark for his career for the Tar Heels. It was also his seventh consecutive 100-yard rushing game which ties the all-time school record.
Receiver of the Week
If Cam Ward was putting up all those passing yards, logic says Xavier Restrepo was on the receiving end of a lot of them. The Biletnikoff candidate had eight catches for 146 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in the win over Duke. Restrepo is now the Canes’ all-time receiving yards leader with 2,573. He is also the first receiver in Miami history to have at least 850 receiving yards in multiple seasons.
Offensive Lineman of the Week
Tackle Monroe Mills played a big role in Louisville’s huge win at Clemson. He graded out at 91% and recorded five knockdown blocks. The offensive line also did not give up a sack the entire game. That is two weeks in a row and the fourth time this season. The 6-7, 315-pound lineman played much of the game with an undisclosed knee injury that will cause him to miss some games down the stretch.
Defensive Lineman of the Week
We go back to Chapel Hill for Beau Atkinson, the UNC defensive lineman. Atkinson had a career-high three-and-a-half sacks and four-and-a-half tackles for loss in the win over Florida State. The Tar Heels defense also held FSU to just 201 total yards of offense.
Linebacker of the Week
Marlowe Wax, the linebacker for the Syracuse Orange. Wax forced a fumble in overtime that ended the game giving Syracuse the win over VA Tech. He also recovered a fumble in the third quarter that led to Syracuse taking the lead. He also had nine total tackles and a sack in the game.
Defensive Back of the Week
Quincy Riley of Louisville had a big game in the upset win over Clemson. He had seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a pass breakup. The Louisville defense had nine pass breakups overall.
Specialist of the Week
Louisville placekicker Brock Travelstead tied the school record for most field goals made in a game. He was four for five in field goals with makes from 21, 42, 40, and 49 yards. He was also three for three on point after attempts, giving him 15 of the Cardinals’ 33 points in the win over Clemson.
Rookie of the Week
For the second consecutive week, the choice is Issac Brown, the Louisville running back. He had 20 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown in the upset win at Clemson. This is Brown’s third time this season being named Rookie of the Week.
