Holland Postell Earns ACC Honors

Nov. 2, 1998

CLEMSON, S.C. – NC State showed the way with the naming of two grid stars, in the weekly ACC Player of the Week selections. The Pack leaders in the 46-39 victory over Clemson were receiver Torry Holt, the league’s Offensive Back of the Week, and cornerback Lloyd Harrison, the Defensive Back of the Week choice.

Holland Postell of Clemson was recognized as the top offensive lineman, while Wali Rainer of Virginia grabbed defensive Lineman of the Week honors. Joe Burns of Georgia Tech came up with the rookie honors and Sims Lenhardt of Duke got the nod as the specialist of the week in voting by a panel of media members from the ACC area.

Holt accumulated 225 reception yards on 11 catches and scored four receiving touchdowns in the Packs’ victory at Clemson. He had a career best 85-yard touchdown reception from Jamie Barnette in the second period and then had a 17-yard scoring pass just before the half. He had seven catches in the fourth quarter, including the game winner with just 37 seconds left. He is now third in ACC history in reception yardage with 2934. He became the first player in history to have four touchdown receptions against Clemson and his reception yardage total was the second most ever against the Tigers.

Harrison, a cornerback, accounted for three Clemson turnovers and tallied 10 tackles. Two turnovers came on interceptions by Harrison, including one that sealed the win in the fourth quarter with under 30 seconds to play. He also caused a fumble that was recovered by the Pack and led to a touchdown. In addition to his turnover collection, he had eight unassisted tackles and three passes broken up.

Ranier, a senior linebacker from Charlotte, NC, led Virginia’s defensive linemen with nine tackles, including seven solos. Rainer scored the Cavaliers first touchdown of the day on a 38-yard interception return. It was a great start for the Cavs, who downed Wake Forest, 38-17. Rainer later recorded a three-yard tackle for loss and a pass deflection to go with three quarterback pressures. The Cavalier defense allowed the Deacons only four yards rushing and stopped drives inside the red zone three times.

Postell graded 91 percent for his 78 plays against NC State. It was the second straight grade in the 90s for Postell, who has played every snap at right tackle in eight of the nine Clemson games so far this season. He had a perfect grade in pass protection, a big reason Clemson completed 27 of 38 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns. The Summerville, SC senior has missed just six plays all season.

Running back Joe Burns of Georgia Tech piled up 179 yards on 20 attempts as the Techsters downed Maryland 31-14. In the second half, Burns gained 143 yards. He had a 44-yard scoring run in the third quarter, which gave Georgia Tech the lead, then tacked on a 54-yard jaunt in the fourth period. The freshman from Thomasville, GA also caught a pair of passes for 24 yards. This was the first 100-yard rushing game of the season for a Georgia Tech player 13th best single game performance in school history. It was the best rushing effort for a true freshman at Tech since Jerry Mays had 206 against Western Carolina in 1986.

Even in the double overtime loss to Vanderbilt, Lenhardt had a career day with four field goals, including a career long 54-yarder at the end of the first half. He came back with a 53-yard boot in the third period. The Charleston, SC junior also hit from 25 yards out in the second period and 45 yards away in the first overtime. He has now kicked 16 field goals this season to tie his own school record. Ten of the successful kicks have been from 40 yards or more.