O'Brien Earns ACC Rookie Of Week
9/27/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland's Danny O'Brien was honored Monday by the Atlantic Coast Conference for his play in Saturday's 42-28 victory over FIU.
O'Brien was voted the league's rookie of the week after completing 18 of 27 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Starting the first game of his collegiate career, O'Brien led the Terps on five scoring drives and had an efficiency rating of 168.89, the seventh-highest mark by a freshman in the NCAA FBS this season.
O'Brien, who was the first freshman quarterback to start for Maryland since Latrez Harrison (11/20/99) and just the fifth in school history, threw touchdown passes of 9 (to LaQuan Williams) and 68 yards (to Torrey Smith).
Smith (offensive back), Andrew Gonnella (offensive line), A.J. Francis (defensive line), Adrian Moten (defensive back/outside LB) and Tony Logan (specialist) were also nominated for ACC Player of the Week honors.
For the complete release from the ACC, click here.
POW Nominee Thumbnails:
Torrey Smith had a season-high eight receptions for 159 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown, in the win over FIU. The junior has consecutive 100-yard receiving games and has caught five TD passes in the last three games. His 308 receiving yards in the last two contests are most over a two-game span by a Terp since Jermaine Lewis had 394 in 1995. With his 193 all-purpose yards (also 34 kickoff return yards) against FIU, he became just the second player in school history to accumulate more than 4,000 all-purpose yards in his career, joining LaMont Jordan (4,960). Smith's eight receptions brought his career total to 100, tying him for 10th all-time in school history.
Andrew Gonnella graded out as the Terps' top offensive lineman vs. FIU. Gonnella saw action in 51 plays, many of them with a sprained ankle, posting three big blocks and not allowing a sack on Danny O'Brien who was making his first career start. The junior helped the Terps post 169 rushing yards on 6.0 yards per carry and throw for 250 yards.
A.J. Francis was involved on a tackle in nearly one of every four plays against FIU. He tallied a career-high 11 tackles against FIU, the most stops by a Maryland defensive lineman in six years (12 by Shawne Merriman, 12/27/04) and doubling his previous top effort (5 tackles twice). The sophomore, who was on the field for 48 plays, also added a tackle for loss, one of six on the day for the Terps.
Adrian Moten recorded 11 tackles on the day against FIU, the second most tackles of the season for the senior and the third time he has recorded double-digit stops. He also intercepted FIU quarterback Wesley Carroll in Panthers' territory late in the third quarter, setting up a Maryland touchdown that extended the Terps' lead to 35-21. Moten nearly had another interception in the fourth quarter, breaking up another Carroll pass.
Tony Logan showed Saturday why he is one of the top punt returners in the nation. The junior had his third return over 50 yards this season, an 85-yarder for a touchdown in the second quarter against FIU, marking the first punt return for a score for Maryland since the 2004 Gator Bowl. Logan had six punt returns in the game, totaling 135 yards, his second 100-yard game of the season (also 128 yards vs. Morgan State, 9/11). Logan leads the ACC and ranks third nationally by averaging 25.2 yards per return on the season.
