Tar Heels earn All-ACC Honors
The Atlantic Coast Conference released its list of 2009 All-League performers Monday, as voted upon by the members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
Seven Tar Heels in all made the list, including four defensive players on the first team---defensive end Robert Quinn, linebacker Quan Sturdivant, cornerback Kendric Burney, and safety Deunta Williams.
Advertisement
Quinn finished the regular season ranked first in the ACC in tackles for loss (19) and second in the league in sacks with 11. He also finished second in forced fumbles, with six.
Sturdivant finished with 75 tackles (6.2 per game), and one sack. He was ranked sixth in the ACC in tackles for loss with 12.
Burney set an ACC record for interception return yards in a single game, and over the season broke UNC's all-time record in the same category.
He finished tied for fourth in the league with five interceptions, compiling 200 interception return yards.
He return two for touchdowns---one in the Miami game and one in the Boston College game.
Williams was second in the league in the 'passes defended' category---a statistic that combines pass breakups and interceptions---with a total of 14.
His six interceptions tied for second in the conference to go along with eight pass breakups.
North Carolina's defense was No. 1 in the ACC in total yardage allowed (267.8 ypg) and rushing yards allowed (92.8 ypg) this fall.
On the second team, North Carolina featured defensive tackle Marvin Austin, linebacker Bruce Carter, and place kicker Casey Barth.
Austin, despite taking on opposing double-teams all season, finished the regular season with 40 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, and six quarterback hurries.
Carter ranked second on the UNC roster with 61 total tackles, along with 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two recovered fumble.
Barth finished the season tied for first in the ACC in total made field goals with 20.
His 83.3 percent conversion rate (20 of 24) ranked sixth in the league.
He was successful on 32 of 33 extra point attempts---a conversion rate of 97 percent.
Two more UNC players---senior offensive tackle Kyle Jolly and tight end Zack Pianalto---were named to the All-ACC "Honorable Mention" team.
The 2009 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team was voted on by 40 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. NOTE: A first-team vote was worth two points and second team vote one.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
QB-Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech (50)
RB-Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (67)
RB-Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (63)
WR-Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech (63)
WR-Donovan Varner, Duke (50)
TE-George Bryan, NC State (39)
TE-Michael Palmer, Clemson (39)
OT-Jason Fox, Miami (57)
OT-Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (53)
OG-Rodney Hudson, Florida State (54)
OG-Cord Howard, Georgia Tech (47)
C-Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech (45)
K-Matt Waldron, Virginia Tech (27)
K-Matt Bosher, Miami (27)
Spc-C.J. Spiller, Clemson (76)
Defense
DE-Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech (76)
DE-Robert Quinn, North Carolina (69)
DT-Nate Collins, Virginia (47)
DT-Allen Bailey, Miami (38)
LB-Cody Grimm, Virginia Tech (65)
LB-Luke Kuechly, Boston College (53)
LB-Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina (44)
LB-Alex Wujciak, Maryland (44)
CB-Kendric Burney, North Carolina (59)
CB-Brandon Harris, Miami (41)
S-DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson (57)
S-Deunta Williams, North Carolina (53)
P-Brent Bowden, Virginia Tech (57)
SECOND TEAM
Offense
QB-Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (18)
RB-C.J. Spiller, Clemson (62)
RB-Montel Harris, Boston College (39)
WR-Torrey Smith, Maryland (25)
WR-Jacoby Ford, Clemson (24)
TE-Greg Boone, Virginia Tech (16)
OT-Ed Wang, Virginia Tech (31)
OT-Chris Hairston, Clemson (26)
OG-Thomas Austin, Clemson (39)
OG-Sergio Render, Virginia Tech (37)
C-Matt Tennant, Boston College (29)
K-Casey Barth, North Carolina (21)
K-Will Snyderwine, Duke (21)
Spc-Torrey Smith, Maryland (17)
Defense
DE-Ricky Sapp, Clemson (29)
DE-Willie Young, NC State (24)
DE-Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech (24)
DT-Marvin Austin, North Carolina (32)
DT-John Russell, Wake Forest (29)
LB-Vincent Rey, Duke (29)
LB-Darryl Sharpton, Miami (21)
LB-Bruce Carter, North Carolina (17)
LB-Colin McCarthy, Miami (17)
LB-Dekoda Watson, Florida State (17)
CB-Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (26)
CB-Patrick Robinson, Florida State (26)
S-Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (51)
S-Kam Chancellor, Virginia Tech (24)
P-Matt Bosher, Miami (37)