Oct. 11, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland sophomore punter Adam Podlesh (Pittsford, N.Y.) was named ACC Specialist of the Week for his play in last weekend's loss to Georgia Tech at Byrd Stadium.

Podlesh averaged a season-best 49.8 yards per punt on nine attempts in Saturday's 20-7 loss. He had a net average for the game of 44.9 yards per punt and had one ball downed inside the 20 and had a season-long 59-yard punt in the first quarter.

This week, Podlesh leads the nation in net punting with a 43.7-yard average and is sixth overall with a 45.9-yard average.

Below are the rest of last week's ACC picks:

OFFENSIVE BACK
North Carolina quarterback Darian Durant and Florida State tailback Leon Washington have been selected as Co-ACC Offensive Backs of the Week. Durant, a 5-11, 217-pound senior from Florence, S.C., completed 15 of 23 passes for 192 yards, zero interceptions and three touchdowns in Saturday's 30-24 win over 25th-ranked NC State. Washington, a 5-9, 202-pound Jacksonville, Fla., junior, ran for a career-high 164 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries in the Seminoles' 17-13 win at Syracuse Saturday.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Virginia tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson turned in an outstanding performance in the Cavaliers' 30-10 win over Clemson last Thursday night. The 6-5, 295-pound junior out of Freeport, N.Y., keyed the Cavaliers to 239 rushing yards and 464 yards of total offense as Virginia ran its winning streak to eight games in a row with the win.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Georgia Tech defensive end Eric Henderson was a key figure in one of the top defensive performances in school history, helping Tech hold 23rd-ranked Maryland to just 81 yards of offense in Tech's 20-7 road victory. The 6-3, 265-pound junior from New Orleans, La., had 2.5 tackles for loss in the game, including 1.5 sacks. His presence on the Tech defensive line has helped the Jackets record 12 sacks in the last two games, including a season-high seven against Maryland. The 81 yards allowed by the Tech defense is the best performance in the nation this season and the best in any ACC game since 1997. It also represents the fewest yards allowed by Tech since 1963 and the sixth-lowest total in school history.

DEFENSIVE BACK
North Carolina linebacker Larry Edwards made his first start of the season and responded with eight tackles, a fumble recovery and a 54-yard interception return in the Tar Heels' 30-24 victory over 25th-ranked NC State. The Tampa, Fla., sophomore picked off a Jay Davis pass at the UNC 43-yard line that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and ran 54 yards to the NC State 3-yard line. North Carolina scored on the next play. Edwards also recovered a fumble in the third quarter at the UNC 20-yard line.

ROOKIE
Making his first career start Saturday against Virginia Tech, Wake Forest freshman middle linebacker Jonathan Abbate had 15 tackles, including seven solo and eight assisted. In addition, the 6-0, 247-pound freshman from Powder Springs, Ga., forced a fumble near the goal line in the game. Abbate is tied for the ACC lead with 33 solo tackles and has 20 more solo tackles than any other ACC freshman.