Nov. 30, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
University of Maryland senior linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was named Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year today as voted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA). He is the second Terrapin ever to receive the honor.
Jackson had 31 votes, tops over Matthias Kiwanuka (17) of Boston College and Darryl Tapp (14) of Virginia Tech. Jackson also finished third - by just two votes -- in balloting for overall Player of the Year honors, a nod that went to Wake Forest's Chris Barclay, the conference's Offensive Player of the Year.
"It feels good to work hard and have somebody reward you for it," said Jackson. "With all of the great linebackers and great defensive players in this league, it is a great feeling...a big accomplishment."
Jackson is the second player in Maryland history to receive the award and it is the third time a Terrapin has earned the honor in the last five years, all since head coach Ralph Friedgen and recently-retired defensive coordinator Gary Blackney arrived. E.J. Henderson was the award's recipient in 2001 and 2002.
"D'Qwell had an outstanding year for us," said head coach Ralph Friedgen. "He is very worthy of this award and we are proud that he has been able to continue the recent tradition of great linebackers here at the University of Maryland."
The senior finished the season with 137 tackles (an average of 13.7 per game), leading the ACC for the second straight year and finishing the regular season ranked second in the NCAA. For his career, Jackson posted 447 tackles, fourth-most in Maryland history. He is a finalist for the Bednarik Award, which will be announced at next Thursday's ESPN College Football Awards Show.
A few notables on the Largo, Fla., native's season and career:
In `05, Jackson finished second in the nation with an average of 13.7 tackles per game and led the NCAA for much of the year.
He posted 15 or more tackles in a game five times in 2005.
The fiercest competitor on the Terp roster, he led Maryland in tackles in 22 of 34 games the last three years and all but one of the 10 games he played in this year.
He had 22 career games with double-digit tackles (in 34 starts).
In the final game of his career at Maryland, Jackson was all over the field against NC State. He finished with 13 tackles (nine solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
In his final regular season trip to his home state of Florida, he posted a game-high (both teams) 15 tackles and a tackle for loss against No. 10/9 FSU.
After missing the Temple game due to injury, Jackson returned to the lineup against No. 3 Virginia Tech and finished with a team-high 11 tackles and an interception -- his first of the year -- which he returned 21 yards to the Hokie 33-yard line.
Against No. 19/18 Virginia, Jackson led the team in tackles with 14 while recording a sack and a half TFL.
Jackson -- a first team All-ACC selection who finished second in balloting (by two votes) for Defensive Player of the Year honors -- averaged 11.2 tackles per game last year, making him the lone player in the league to average 10 or more tackles per game.
