Dec. 17, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Four Maryland football players earned spots on freshman All-Atlantic Coast Conference teams.
PK Nick Ferrara and DL A.J. Francis landed on The Sporting News freshman All-ACC team.
Ferrara also earned a spot on the Rivals.com freshman all-conference team along with OL R.J. Dill and LB Demetrius Hartsfield.
Both teams were released Thursday.
Ferrara was among the top freshman place-kickers in the country this season. He connected 18 of 25 field-goal attempts, including 7 of 10 from 40 or more yards. He ranks tied for 20th in the nation in field goals (1.5 per game). In addition, Ferrara's 80 points were second most in school history by a freshman.
Dill played in all 12 games at right tackle, starting eight. He was part of a young offensive line which improved as the season went along. The line allowed one or fewer sacks in four of the last six games.
Hartsfield was one of the team's top defensive players despite having part of his season derailed with a broken wrist. In 10 games he tallied 64 tackles (fifth on the team), including 6.5 tackles for loss (tied for second on the team) and 3.5 sacks (third on the team).
Francis played in all 12 games at defensive tackle, starting 10 and racking up 31 tackles on the year. He also had one sack, a forced fumble, a pass breakup and blocked one kick.
Other Terps secured postseason recognition this month:
• Ferrara earned second-team freshman All-America honors from Phil Steele Publications.
• Francis earned honorable mention freshman All-America honors from College Football News.
• Torrey Smith was a first team All-ACC choice at wide receiver by The Sporting News and Phil Steele Publications. He was also a second team all-league selection as a kick returner by Phil Steele. Smith posted 61 receptions for 824 yards and five touchdowns. He ranks sixth in the country in all-purpose yards (182.7 pg). His 2,192 all-purpose yards rank second on the all-time ACC single-season list.
• LB Alex Wujciak was a first team All-ACC selection by College Football News and Phil Steele Publications. Wujciak ranks eighth in the nation and second in the conference in tackles (10.9 pg). He tallied 131 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss, and two interceptions on the season.
