Six Eagles earn All-ACC honors

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Six Boston College football student-athletes were named to the 2008 ACSMA/AP All-ACC Football Team, announced December 1 by the conference. Highlighting the selections for BC were junior LB Mark Herzlich, senior DT B.J. Raji, and senior OG Clif Ramsey, who were each voted to the All-ACC First Team.

Senior DT Ron Brace, sophomore OT Anthony Castonzo, and senior TE Ryan Purvis were each voted to the All-ACC Second Team.

Herzlich leads the Boston College defense with 98 tackles, 74 solo tackles, seven pass break-ups, six interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. He ranks fifth in the nation in solo tackles per game with 6.17.

Herzlich's six interceptions this season ties the amount that all BC linebackers had in 2007. He owns the fifth highest interception total in the country (four are tied with seven) and is one of just two linebackers in the nation with six interceptions. He is one of three linebackers in the country with two interception returns for touchdowns.

Raji has been a force in the middle of the BC defensive line. He has accumulated 33 tackles on the season and leads the Eagles with 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. Raji has also recorded four pass break-ups and a pair of quarterback hurries.

Brace has racked up 21 tackles on the season despite playing through a nagging injury in his back. His nine tackles for a loss are fourth on the team and his three sacks are third.

Their presence on the front line has anchored one of the best defenses in the country. The Eagles rank seventh in the nation in rushing defense (87.3), eighth in total defense (276.67), and ninth in pass efficiency defense (99.37).

Ramsey and Castonzo have started all 12 games this season at left guard and left tackle, respectively. They lead an offensive line that ranks 21st in the country in tackles for a loss allowed (4.58) and 31st in sacks allowed (1.42). The Eagles have allowed 17 sacks with two first-year starting QBs in senior Chris Crane and redshirt freshman Dominique Davis behind them.

BC also features two true freshmen at tailback. Montel Harris has recorded five 100-yard games and broke the freshman rushing record at Boston College on Saturday. Harris and Josh Haden are the second-best true freshman running back pair in the country with an average of 112.40 yards per game.

Purvis has caught 20 passes for 147 yards but has taken on more of a blocking role this year with the new offense. His 106 career receptions rank 17th all-time at Boston College.

In addition to the six mentioned above, senior SS Paul Anderson, sophomore OG Thomas Claiborne, and junior C Matt Tennant all earned Honorable Mention honors.

OFFENSE

FIRST TEAM

QB_Russell Wilson, N.C. State (106)

RB_Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (134)*

RB_Da'Rel Scott, Maryland (76)

WR_Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (130)

WR_D.J. Boldin, Wake Forest (76)

TE_John Phillips, Virginia (88)

OT_Eugene Monroe, Virginia (117)

OT_Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech (107)

OG_Rodney Hudson, Florida State (99)

OG_Cliff Ramsey, Boston College (78)

C_Edwin Williams, Maryland (62)

SECOND TEAM

QB_Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (28)

RB_Darren Evans, Virginia Tech (58)

RB_C.J. Spiller, Clemson (50)

WR_Eron Riley, Duke (57)

WR_Aaron Kelly, Clemson (56)

TE_Ryan Purvis, Boston College (45)

OT_Garrett Reynolds, North Carolina (42)

OT_Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (41)

OG_Sergio Render, Virginia Tech (48)

OG_Cord Howard, Georgia Tech (45)

C_Thomas Austin, Clemson (48)

DEFENSE

FIRST TEAM

DE_Everette Brown, Florida State (131)

DE_Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech (99)

DT_B.J. Raji, Boston College (103)

DT_Vance Walker, Georgia Tech (62)

LB_Mark Herzlich, Boston College (118)

LB_Michael Tauiliili, Duke (110)

LB_Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (106)

CB_Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest (134)*

CB_Victor Harris, Virginia Tech (125)

S_Trimane Goddard, North Carolina (105)

S_Michael Hamlin, Clemson (89)

SECOND TEAM

DE_Orion Martin, Virginia Tech (61)

DE_Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech (39)

DT_Ron Brace, Boston College (52)

DT_Darryl Richard, Georgia Tech (50)

LB_Clint Sintim, Virginia (79)

LB_Alex Wujciak, Maryland (43)

LB_Mark Paschal, North Carolina (40)

CB_Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (49)

CB_Tony Carter, Florida State (34)

CB_Kendric Burney, North Carolina (34)

S_Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (85)

S_Myron Rolle, Florida State (55)

SPECIAL TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

K_Graham Gano, Florida State (127)

P_Travis Baltz, Maryland (105)

Specialist_C.J. Spiller, Clemson (66)

SECOND TEAM

K_Matt Bosher, Miami (34)

P_Matt Bosher, Miami (60)

Specialist_Michael Ray Garvin, Florida State (41)

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE: Riley Skinner, qb, Wake Forest (26); Antone Smith, rb, Florida State (33); Cedric Peerman, rb, Virginia (30); Darius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland (34); Kevin Ogletree, wr, Virginia (32); Dan Gronkowski, te, Maryland (41); Scott Burley, ot, Maryland (34); Thomas Claiborne, og, Boston College (38); Calvin Darity, og, North Carolina (34); Jaimie Thomas, og, Maryland (33); Nick Marshman, og, Virginia Tech (24); Ryan McMahon, c, Florida State (35); Matt Tennant, c, Boston College (33); Ryan Shuman, c, Virginia Tech (23).

DEFENSE: Derrick Morgan, de, Georgia Tech (26); Willie Young, de, N.C. State (25); Vince Oghobaase, dt, Duke (40); Boo Robinson, de, Wake Forest (31); Jeremy Navarre, dt, Maryland (29); Nate Irving, lb, N.C. State (28); Paul Anderson, s, Boston College (35); Anthony Reddick, s, Miami (23).

SPECIAL TEAMS: Dustin Keys, k, Virginia Tech (25); Brandon Tate, spec., North Carolina (33); T.J. Graham, spec., N.C. State (31).