GREENSBORO, N.C.- With one of the most spectacular all-purpose nights in
ACC history, North Carolina's Brandon Tate racked up 397 yards on 11 plays
to propel him to ACC Specialist of the Week honors. Joining Tate as
league honorees for the first week of the season are Wake Forest
quarterback Riley Skinner, Georgia Tech offensive tackle Andrew Gardner,
Miami defensive lineman Spencer Atkins, North Carolina defensive end E.J.
Wilson, Virginia Tech cornerback Stephan Virgil and Miami quarterback
Jacory Harris.
Skinner earned Offensive Back of the week honors by completing 27-of-36
passes for 220 yards. He also did not allow an interception and threw for
a career-high three touchdowns in Wake's 41-13 win over Baylor. Gardner
earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors as he helped the Yellow
Jackets tally a league-best 249 yards on the ground.
Miami's Atkins and North Carolina's Wilson also earned co-Defensive
Linemen of the Week honors. Atkins tallied three solo tackles, two for
loss as the Hurricane defense held Charleston Southern to 126 total yards.
Wilson had eight tackles, three for loss, in the 35-27 Tar Heel victory.
Virginia Tech's Virgil was honored as defensive back of the Week as he
scored eight points on returns in Virginia Tech's loss to ECU. Virgil
returned a fumble 30 yards early in the game and later ran back a
defensive PAT 90 yards for two points.
Rounding out this week's team is Miami's Harris who earned Rookie of the
Week honors. Harris was 16-for-26 through the air for 190 yards in his
first collegiate game for the Hurricanes. He led Miami to a 52-7 win over
Charleston Southern.
OFFENSIVE BACK-Riley Skinner, Wake Forest, QB, 6-1, 250, Jr.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Skinner completed 27 of 36 passes (75%) for 220 yards, no interceptions
and a career-high three touchdowns in leading the Deacons to a 41-13
season-opening win at Baylor last Thursday. He completed 12 of his first
13 pass attempts and distributed the ball to eight different receivers.
Skinner also earned his 19th win as a starting quarterback for the
Deacons, becoming the winningest QB in school history.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN-Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech, G, 6-6, 297, Sr., Tyrone, Ga.
Georgia Tech rushed for a league-best 249 yards and produced 484 yards of
total offense. The four-year senior was instrumental to the effort,
making his 40th consecutive start after adjusting to head coach Paul
Johnson's new blocking schemes.
CO- DEFENSIVE LINEMAN-Spencer Adkins, Miami, ILB, 5-11, 235, Sr., Naples,
Fla.
Adkins helped a Miami defense that held Charleston Southern to 126 total
yards and 49 rushing yards. Adkins tallied three solo tackles - two
tackles for loss and recorded two sacks from his middle linebacker
position.
E.J. Wilson, North Carolina, DE, 6-2, 280, Jr., Lawrenceville, Va.
Junior E.J. Wilson posted eight tackles, including three for loss in North
Carolina's 35-27 victory over McNeese State.
DEFENSIVE BACK-Stephan Virgil, Virginia Tech, CB, 5-11, 177, Jr., Rocky
Mount, N.C.
In Saturday's loss to East Carolina, Virgil scored eight of the Hokies' 22
points. Virgil opened the Virginia Tech scoring by snatching up a ECU
fumble and rumbling 30 yards for a touchdown to put the Hokies up 7-0. In
the third quarter, Virgil snatched up a blocked extra point and took it 90
yards for a defensive PAT.
SPECIALIST-Brandon Tate, North Carolina, WR/KR, 6-1, 195, Sr., Burlington,
N.C.
Tate posted a new UNC school record with 397 all-purpose yards on Saturday
night against McNeese St. The Tar Heel senior achieved the feat with only
11 touches, averaging more than 36 yards per touch. Tate caught four
passes for 93 yards and ran the ball three times for 106. He also tallied
three punt returns for 142 yards and a 56 yard kickoff return. He scored
two touchdowns in the second highest all-purpose day in ACC history, only
14 yards shy of John Leach's mark of 411 yards.
ROOKIE-Jacory Harris, Miami, QB, 6-4, 175, Fr., Miami, Fla.
Harris started his first collegiate game and completed 16-of-26 passes for
190 yards while accounting for two touchdowns - one through the air and
one on the ground -- in leading Miami to a 52-7 win over Charleston
Southern. The true freshman from Miami led the Hurricanes to touchdowns on
four of their first five possessions. He scored his first collegiate
touchdown on a 30-yard run on the seventh play of the game and finished
with 212 yards of total offense.
