Dec. 2, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. –
Georgia Tech junior defensive end Derrick Morgan was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday.
Morgan’s award gives Georgia Tech two of the ACC’s top three individual awards for the second straight year. Paul Johnson was named ACC Coach of the Year earlier this week. Last year Johnson was the league’s coach of the year and Jonathan Dwyer was the ACC Player of the Year.
Morgan is the first Yellow Jacket to win ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Clemson’s C.J. Spiller was named the ACC Player of the Year and the ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
Morgan, Johnson and Spiller will all attend an awards luncheon Friday in Tampa, Fla.
Morgan leads the ACC and ranks sixth nationally in sacks (12.5). He is three sacks shy of breaking the Georgia Tech single-season record of 15.0 sacks by Pat Swilling in 1985.
The Coatesville (Pa.) native also leads the ACC and ranks tied for 17th nationally in tackles for loss (17.0). He has two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles this season.
Morgan joins a list of impressive names to win ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Boston College’s Mark Herzlich won the award last year, Virginia’s Chris Long in 2007 and Clemson’s Gaines Adams in 2006.
