Williams named ACC defensive ROY
Chapel Hill, N.C. - North Carolina safety Deunta Williams has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year announced Tuesday by the league office.
A native of Jacksonville, N.C., Williams received 48 votes to outdistance teammate and fellow defensive back Charles Brown. Williams led the Tar Heels with three interceptions and had 57 tackles, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.
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"It's a great honor and I thank God, my teammates and my coaches for granting me the opportunity to win this award," says Williams. "I was able to make the transition to defense this year and our coaches gave us great game plans every week to put me in a position to make a plays."
Williams garnered one vote in the ACC Rookie of the Year honors, which was won by Wake Forest tailback Josh Adams.
Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates finished second to Adams and was second in the offensive rookie voting. Yates set UNC's single-season passing yards record and was third in the league in total offense and passing yards per game.
In addition to Brown, Carolina defensive tackle Marvin Austin (2) and linebacker Quan Sturdivant (1) also received votes for defensive rookie honors.