Nov. 29, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Three Maryland freshmen were selected to the 2007 Sporting News Freshman All-ACC Football Team, the publication announced Thursday. Wide receiver LaQuan Williams, linebacker Adrian Moten and punter Travis Baltz represent the Terps on this year's team.
The magazine chose 11 starters on each side of the ball, along with three specialists. Only one school - North Carolina with six - placed more players on the team. Georgia Tech and Duke each had three selections as well.
Moten, a redshirt freshman out of Gwynn Park High School in Suitland, Md., has proven to be a versatile player in his first season on the field, and has emerged as a key contributor for the Terps. He has seen time as a reserve at all three linebacker spots and at defensive end in pass-rushing situations.
Moten ranks ninth on the team with 45 tackles, the most of any reserve. A disruptive force on the edge, he has 5 1/2 tackles for loss, including 3 1/2 sacks, and has forced two fumbles while collecting an interception.
Williams switched over from defensive back prior to the start of spring workouts and made the most of his opportunity by earning a share of the starting job (seven starts). He had 15 catches for 217 yards before a knee injury shelved him for the final two regular-season games. He's expected to return for the bowl game.
The redshirt freshman had perhaps his best game in the 34-24 upset of No. 10 Rutgers (Sept. 29) when he recorded two catches for a career-high 66 yards, including a spectacular 27-yard diving grab which set up Keon Lattimore's fourth-quarter touchdown.
Baltz had some big shoes to fill after he took over for All-ACC performer Adam Podlesh, but the true freshman from Whitehouse, Ohio, responded well. Baltz ranks seventh in the ACC and 45th in the nation with an average of 41.3 yards per punt, and elevated his game during conference play with a 43.1-yard average, second-best in the league.
In addition, linebacker Erin Henderson, offensive tackle Scott Burley and defensive tackle Dre Moore earned accolades from Rivals.com this week when the Web site announced its All-America and All-ACC teams. Henderson was named a third team All-American and first team All-ACC. Burley and Moore earned second team All-ACC honors.
2007 SPORTING NEWS FRESHMAN ALL-ACC TEAM
OFFENSE
WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech*
WR LaQuan Williams, Maryland*
TE Zack Pianalto, North Carolina
L (T) Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
L (G) Rodney Hudson, Florida State
L (C) Ryan McMahon, Florida State*
L (T) Bryan Morgan, Duke
L (T) Jake Vermiglio, N.C. State
QB T.J. Yates, North Carolina*
RB Josh Adams, Wake Forest*
RB Graig Cooper, Miami
DEFENSE
L (T) Marvin Austin, North Carolina
L (E) Wesley Oglesby, Duke*
L (T) Markus Kuhn, N.C. State
LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina
LB Adrian Moten, Maryland*
LB Hunter Haynes, Wake Forest*
DB (S) Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
DB (CB) Ras-I Dowling, Virginia
DB (S) Deunta Williams, North Carolina*
DB (CB) Charles Brown, North Carolina
DB (S) DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson
SPECIALISTS
K Nick Maggio, Duke
P Travis Baltz, Maryland
KR Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
ACC OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Josh Adams, RB, Wake Forest* ACC DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Deunta Williams, S, North Carolina*
* denotes redshirt
