Whitehurst Named ACC Offensive Back of the Week

Nov. 4, 2002

ACC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Monday, November 4, 2002

OFFENSIVE BACK Clemson quarterback Charlie Whitehurst completed 34 of 52 passes for 420 yards and four touchdowns in Clemson’s 34-31 win over Duke. In his first career start, the Duluth, Ga., freshman set all-time school single game records for completions and yards and tied the school record for touchdown passes. His 414 yards of total offense was fourth best in school history.

OFFENSIVE LINE Florida State’s Todd Williams, a senior offensive guard from Bradenton, FL, led all FSU linemen with a final grade of 95 percent in the Seminoles’ 34-21 win over Wake Forest. The offensive line did not give up a sack of QB Adrian McPherson for the first time since Duke on Sept. 1, 2001. They were also not called for any penalties and Williams led the team with 10 intimidation (pancake) blocks. He also had a pair of “key blocks” on both of Nick Maddox’s rushing touchdowns. FSU offense totaled 533 yards on the day (255 rushing, 278 passing).

DEFENSIVE LINE NC State’s Dantonio Burnette, a senior inside linebacker from Warner Robbins, Ga., had 18 tackles for the Wolfpack in Saturday’s 24-17 loss to Georgia Tech. Burnette also intercepted a pass at the Georgia Tech 46-yard line late in the fourth quarter with the Pack down seven points. Twice in the game, Georgia Tech had first-and-goal from the NC State 2-yard line, and was forced to kick a field goal each time. Burnette was in on three of the six tackles in those two goal-line stands.

DEFENSIVE BACK For the second straight week, Georgia Tech free safety Jeremy Muyres made a game-saving interception to preserve a Yellow Jacket victory. In Tech’s 24-17 road win over eighth-ranked NC State, Muyres also had six tackles. The senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., keyed an outstanding performance by the Tech defense which held a Wolfpack offense that was averaging 40.9 points per game to just 17 points.

SPECIALIST Maryland’s Steve Suter, a sophomore punt returner from Manchester, Md., tied the NCAA single-season record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown this season as the Terps beat North Carolina 59-7. Suter returned four punts for 92 yards and established a new ACC record for single-season punt return yardage with 574 yards.

ROOKIE Maryland’s Shawne Merriman, a freshman linebacker, had eight tackles, including seven solos and three quarterback sacks in the Terps’ 59-7 win over North Carolina. The Marlboro, Md., native also had two passes broken up and forced a fumble.

-ACC-