Henderson, Perry Nab Top ACC Individual Grid Honors
11/29/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 29, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- University of Maryland football players E.J. Henderson and Bruce Perry have earned three of the Atlantic Coast Conference's top
honors for their play during their 2001 season. Henderson has been named the ACC's Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while Perry
earned the conference's recognition as Offensive Player of the Year.
Henderson, a junior from Aberdeen, Md., was the hands-on favorite for both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Of 69 available votes for
each award, Henderson received 57 and 70 percent of the votes, respectively. He becomes the third Terrapin to earn ACC Player of the Year honors, joining
Bernie Faloney (1953), Bob Pelligrini (1955) and Randy White (1974).
A Butkus Award finalist and Football Writers Association All-America, Henderson led the ACC in tackles this year while setting a school record in tackles for
loss with 28.
Perry, a native of Philadelphia, went from fighting for a starting spot in the preseason to leading the conference in rushing (1,242 yards) en route to ACC
Offensive Player of the Year honors. He is the first player in school history to earn the distinction, narrowly edging Clemson's Woodrow Dantzler in the
voting (22-21). Just a sophomore, Perry becomes the first non-senior since the award's inception in 1993 to earn the honor.
A Doak Walker Award finalist, Perry led the ACC in rushing, was second in all-purpose yards (156.2) and third in scoring via touchdown (6.5 ppg).
On Wednesday, head coach Ralph Friedgen was the conference's unanimous choice as Coach of the Year.
