FSU's QB Named ACC Rookie of the Week

For the second week this season, freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford was named ACC Rookie of the Week for his outstanding performance against Syracuse on Saturday.

OFFENSIVE BACK

Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick and Wake Forest quarterback Cory Randolph share offensive back honors after leading their respective teams to wins on Saturday. Vick, a redshirt junior from Newport News, Va., accounted for 251 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in Virginia Tech's 34-17 win at West Virginia. Vick completed 15-of-17 passes for 177 yards and two scores and also ran for a career-high 74 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Making his first start of the season at quarterback, Randolph went 20-for-25 for 222 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score in the Demon Deacons’ 31-27 win over Clemson. With Wake Forest trailing by three with 2:31 to play, the redshirt senior from Lake City, Fla., drove the Deacons 66 yards on eight plays, and capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass with 33 seconds left in the game.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Maryland center Ryan McDonald helped lead the Terrapins to a 45-33 win over Virginia on Saturday. McDonald was the highest-graded lineman for Maryland, which established season highs with 570 total yards of offense and 250 rushing yards. The senior from Hagerstown, Md., had four pancake blocks, did not allow a sack and did not miss an assignment in 53 offensive plays. His offensive grade of 1.491 was the highest of any Maryland lineman this season.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Wake Forest middle linebacker Jon Abbate intercepted two passes and made 13 tackles in the Demon Deacons’ 31-27 win over Clemson on Saturday. Both of Abbate’s interceptions came in the first quarter, making him the first Wake Forest player to pick off two passes in a quarter since 2002. Abbate, a redshirt sophomore from Powder Springs, Ga., had 11 of his tackles by halftime, giving him a season high for a Wake Forest player after just two quarters of play.

DEFENSIVE BACK

North Carolina outside linebacker Larry Edwards had a team-high 12 tackles in the Tar Heels’ 31-17 victory over Utah on Saturday. The junior from Tampa, Fla., had eight solo stops to go along with four assisted tackles and three tackles for loss. Edwards also forced a fumble on the afternoon.

SPECIAL TEAMS

North Carolina kick returner Brandon Tate racked up 149 yards on three kickoff returns in the Tar Heels’ 31-17 win over Utah on Saturday. The freshman from Burlington, N.C., ran back the game’s opening kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown, becoming the first UNC player to accomplish that feat since 2003. Tate later added kickoff returns of 38 and 15 yards, and returned one punt for three yards.

ROOKIE

Florida State quarterback Drew Weatherford went 17-for-26 for 234 yards and four touchdowns (one rushing) in the Seminoles’ 38-14 win over Syracuse on Saturday. Weatherford threw scoring passes of 43, 15 and 71 yards, while his rushing touchdown was from one yard out. The freshman from Land O’Lakes, Fla., helped Florida State put up 512 yards of total offense and improved his career record to 4-0 as a starter.