Buchholz and Merling Garner ACC Football Player of the Week Honors

Nov. 12, 2007

GREENSBORO, NC – Two Clemson football players garnered ACC Player of the Week honors for their performances last weekend against Wake Forest. Phillip Merling was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Mark Buchholz earned Specialist of the Week honors as announced by the league office on Monday.

Merling, a senior from St. Matthews, SC, finished with an 88 percent grade in 47 snaps against Wake Forest on Saturday. In the Tigers’ 44-10 win, he compiled seven total tackles, including three for loss and two sacks. Merling also registered four quarterback pressures and a broken up pass as the Clemson defense held the Demon Deacons to just 83 yards rushing and 287 overall.

Against Wake Forest on Saturday, Buchholz became the first player in Clemson history to make three field goals of at least 45 yards in one game. With field goals of 46, 48 and 52 yards, the Alpharetta, GA native also became the first Tiger kicker to make a make a field goal from at least 50 yards in over 10 years. The red-shirt junior placekicker also had a good day on kickoffs, allowing the Demon Deacons only 21.4 yards per return as Clemson notched their eighth win of the season.

Other ACC Players of the Week:

OFFENSIVE BACK-Chris Turner, Maryland, Quarterback, 6-3, 214, So., West Hills, Calif. In Maryland’s 42-35 upset of No. 8 Boston College on Saturday night, Turner completed 21-of-27 pass attempts for 337 yards and three touchdowns. His 77.8 completion percentage was the eighth highest single-game number in school history and his 212.29 efficiency rating was the sixth-highest mark in the league this season. In just his fifth-ever start, Turner led the Terps to scores on seven of their first eight possessions, as they jumped out to a 42-21 lead that they would not relinquish.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN-Scott Burley, Maryland, Tackle, 6-5, 324, Jr., Baltimore, Md. Burley played in 53 snaps against the eighth-ranked Eagles on Saturday, and graded out as the team’s top lineman for the game. Behind the big offensive tackle, the Maryland offense accumulated 472 yards of total offense, including 109 rushing yards by running back Lance Ball. The Terps’42 points were the most scored by any Maryland team since 2005.

DEFENSIVE BACK-Durell Mapp, North Carolina, Linebacker, 6-2, 235, Sr., Burlington, N.C. In a close loss to NC State on Saturday, Mapp led the North Carolina defense with 23 total tackles. In the game, the senior racked up 15 solo stops and a sack for a Tar Heel defensive unit that converted two turnovers into touchdowns to give North Carolina a shot at a last minute win. Mapp is currently tied for the league lead in total tackles with 112 and is second with a 11.2 tackles-per-game average.

ROOKIE-Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech, Quarterback, 6-1, 206, Fr., Hampton, Va. Taylor was 10-for-15 for 204 yards and two touchdowns as the Hokies picked up their first win against Florida State since 1975 on Saturday. The true freshman also piled up 92 yards on the ground against the Seminoles, including a 38 yarder on third-and-31 to keep a Hokie drive alive. Taylor has now accounted for a touchdown in all seven games in which he has played this season.