Football

Week 12 ACC Football Players of the Week

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced its Football Players of the Week following standout performances in Week 12. Honorees were selected by a vote of a select media panel.
 
QUARTERBACK – Haynes King, R-Sr., QB, Georgia Tech (Longview, Texas)
  • Continued to cement his status as a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, accounting for 424 yards of offense (371 passing, 53 rushing) in Georgia Tech's 36-34 win at Boston College.
  • Led Georgia Tech on four scoring drives in the fourth quarter (two TD, two FG), as the Yellow Jackets erased a 28-17 deficit with 19 points in the final period.
  • He was especially impressive on Georgia Tech's 13-play, 69-yard drive that set up the Yellow Jackets' game-winning field goal with 11 seconds left in the game. King accounted for 52 of the Jackets' 69 yards on the drive (25 passing, 27 rushing), including four-straight runs (9, 3, 5, and 1 yard) to cap the drive and set up Aidan Birr's 23-yard game-winner.
  • Completed 26-of-34 passes (76.5 percent), good for the fifth-best completion percentage in Georgia Tech history for a passer with at least 30 attempts in a game. He now holds six of the top seven single-game completion percentages in school history (min. 30 attempts).
  • Completed passes to nine different receivers, including two that had 100-yard games - Malik Rutherford (121 yards) and Eric Rivers (119 yards) - which marked the first time since 2005 that Georgia Tech had two 100-yard receivers in a game.
  • The 300-yard passing game was King's third-straight, making him the first Yellow Jacket to throw for 300 yards in three consecutive games since George Godsey in 2000.
  • Marks his fifth ACC Quarterback of the Week honor this season.
 
RUNNING BACK – J’Mari Taylor, Gr., RB, Virginia (Charlotte, North Carolina)
  • Rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries in Saturday's 34-17 road win at Duke.
  • Added four receptions for 25 yards to record his sixth game this season with 100 or more all-purpose yards.
  • Broke a 78-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to put UVA up 31-3, it was tied for the 11th longest TD run in UVA history.
  • The 100-yard rushing performance was his third of the season and the two-touchdown game was his fourth multi-rushing TD game of the season.
  • His 917 rushing yards on the season are now tops in the ACC and his 13 rushing touchdowns are the most of any running back in the league.
 
RECEIVER – Trell Harris, Sr., WR, Virginia (La Grange, Illinois)
  • Had career day with eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown in UVA's 34-17 road win over Duke on Saturday.
  • Established career highs in receptions and yards and added his team-leading, fifth receiving touchdown of the season.
  • The 161 yards were the most by an ACC receiver this week and the sixth-highest single-game total of any ACC receiver this season. B
  • Became the first Cavalier wide receiver with at least 150 yards receiving since Malik Washington against Louisville in 2023.
  • His third reception of the game, a 29-yard catch in the second quarter, marked the 100th of his career.
  • Marks his second ACC Receiver of the Week honor this season.
 
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – Keylan Rutledge, Sr., RG, Georgia Tech (Royston, Georgia)
  • Started at right guard and dominated the line of scrimmage to help lead the Yellow Jackets to 36 points and 628 yards of offense in a 36-34 win at Boston College.
  • The 628 yards of total offense were the most Georgia Tech has gained this season against an FBS opponent and the most by any ACC team in a conference game this season.
  • Was especially impressive in pass blocking to help the Yellow Jackets complete 26-of-34 passes (.765 completion pct.) for 371 yards and one touchdown.
  • Also helped pave the way for the Jackets to rush for 257 yards on 42 carries, good for 6.1 yards per rush and three touchdowns.
  • Helped lead Georgia Tech to scores on all five possessions in the second half, erasing an 11-point deficit in the third quarter and a 1-point deficit with 4:09 remaining.
  • Marks his second ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honor this season.
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Fisher Camac, Sr., DL, Virginia (Gilbert, Arizona)
  • Recorded six tackles (3 solo), two sacks, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a QB hurry in UVA's 34-17 road win at Duke on Saturday.
  • He is the third Cavalier this season to produce a multi-sack effort in an ACC game.
  • Increased his season total to 4.5 sacks and now has 13 for his career.
 
LINEBACKER – Sammy Brown, So., LB, Clemson (Commerce, Georgia)
  • Credited with a team-high 11 tackles, including 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack, in a win at No. 19 Louisville.
  • Was the only player in the ACC to record double-digit tackles and multiple tackles-for-loss on the week.
  • Recorded his fourth sack of the season in the fourth quarter. The sack came on a critical third down late in the game, pushing Louisville back six yards before missing a 50-yard go-ahead field attempt on the following play. 
  • Has now recorded a sack in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
 
DEFENSIVE BACK – Jakobe Thomas, Fifth-Year, DB, Miami (Tullahoma, Tennessee)
  • Recorded two interceptions, including a 60-yard pick-six, in Miami’s 41-7 win over NC State.
  • Also added three solo tackles and one pass breakup in the victory.
  • Marks his second ACC Defensive Back of the Week honor this season.
 
SPECIALIST – Aidan Birr, R-Jr., PK, Georgia Tech (Kennedale, Texas)
  • Matched a career high with three field goals made, including the game-winner with 11 seconds to go that lifted Georgia Tech to a 36-34 win over Boston College.
  • On a cold, windy day in New England, Birr made field goals from 34, 26 and 23 yards and also made 4-of-4 extra points to account for 13 points in the two-point victory.
  • Eight of his 13 points came in the Yellow Jackets' 19-point fourth quarter, as they erased an 11-point deficit in the final period.
  • The game-winning field goal with 11 seconds to go was Birr's second of the season and third of his career.
  • Also played a big part in Boston College having an average starting field position at its own 21-yard line by sending 6-of-7 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
  • Marks his second ACC Specialist of the Week honor this season.
 
ROOKIE – Malachi Toney, Fr., WR, Miami (Liberty City, Florida)
  • Totaled five receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns in Miami’s 41-7 win over NC State.
  • Added a 44-yard pass completion to JoJo trader to put the Hurricanes on the 1-yard line for another would-be touchdown.