Nov. 24, 2003
ATLANTA – Five Georgia Tech players – tailback P.J. Daniels, center Hugh Reilly, defensive end Eric Henderson, linebacker Keyaron Fox and safety James Butler – were named first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selections, the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association announced Monday.
Wide receiver Jonathan Smith was a second-team all-ACC selection, while tight end John Paul Foschi, defensive tackle Travis Parker and linebacker Daryl Smith were honorable mention all-ACC selections.
Daniels leads the ACC in rushing (100.9 yards per game) and is just the sixth Georgia Tech player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season (1,110). The sophomore turned in the second best rushing performance in school history with 240 yards in Tech’s 41-24 win over North Carolina on Nov. 15.
Reilly is the anchor of a Tech offensive line that paves the way for the ACC’s leading rusher. The senior, who has played every offensive snap in the first 11 games (742 plays) and has started 37 straight games, is a nominee for the Rimington Trophy given to the nation’s top center.
Henderson leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with 10 sacks and ranks fourth in the league in tackles for loss (17). The sophomore already has 15 sacks in 24 career games, and he was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after helping Tech to a standout defensive effort in a 17-3 win over Auburn on Sept. 5.
Fox leads the ACC in tackles with 138 (12.5 per game), including 12 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. The senior is the anchor of a Tech unit that ranks in the top 30 nationally in scoring defense and rushing defense.
Butler leads the ACC in interceptions (5) and is one of 12 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. The junior is averaging 10.2 tackles per game, 10th in the conference, in addition to five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick.
Smith ranks second in the ACC in receptions (6.0 per game), receiving yards (92.4 per game) and all-purpose yards (129.0 per game) while also leading the league in punt returns (12.8 yards per return) and punt return touchdowns (2). The senior, who has 66 catches for 1,016 yards, is on pace to break the Tech single season records for receptions and yards.
Foschi is known for his blocking from the tight end position, but he also ranks as Tech’s third-leading receiver in 2003. The senior has 20 catches for 141 yards, and 10 of his 20 catches have been for a touchdown or first down.
Parker, who has started 23 of the last 24 games at defensive tackle, ranks second on the team in tackles for loss (13) and has 2.5 sacks in 2003. The sophomore had a career-best eight tackles, including three tackles for loss, in Tech’s 7-3 win over Maryland on Oct. 23.
Smith, who ranks eighth in the ACC with 116 tackles (10.5 per game), has been Tech’s leading tackler in two of the last three seasons. The senior is an anchor of the Tech defense that held Maryland to 253 yards and three points, Florida State to 251 yards and 13 points and Auburn to 243 yards and three points.
2003 All-ACC Football Team
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Player, School (Votes) Quarterback Philip Rivers, NC State (126) Running Back Chris Douglas, Duke (103) Running Back P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech (100) Wide Receiver Jerricho Cotchery, NC State (119) Wide Receiver Craphonso Thorpe, Florida State (94) Tight End Heath Miller, Virginia (109) Tackle Alex Barron, Florida State (105) Tackle Sean Locklear, NC State (89) Guard C.J. Brooks, Maryland (83) Guard Tyson Clabo, Wake Forest (82) Center Hugh Reilly, Georgia Tech (74)
DEFENSE Player, School (Votes) Defensive Line Darnell Dockett, Florida State (114) Defensive Line Eric Henderson, Georgia Tech (102) Defensive Line Randy Starks, Maryland (101) Defensive Line Matt Zielinski, Duke (82) Linebacker Keyaron Fox, Georgia Tech (97) Linebacker Michael Boulware, Florida State (96) Linebacker Leroy Hill, Clemson (90) Defensive Back James Butler, Georgia Tech (91) Defensive Back Stanford Samuels, Florida State (84) Defensive Back Eric King, Wake Forest (69) Defensive Back Andre Maddox, NC State (64)
SPECIAL TEAMS Player, School (Votes) Placekicker Nick Novak, Maryland (83) Punter Ryan Plackemeier, Wake Forest (117) Specialist Steve Suter, Maryland (47)
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE Player, School (Votes) Quarterback Matt Schaub, Virginia (26) Running Back Chris Barclay, Wake Forest (81) Running Back Wali Lundy, Virginia (33) Wide Receiver Jonathan Smith, Georgia Tech (67) Wide Receiver Derrick Hamilton, Clemson (39) Tight End Jeff Dugan, Maryland (29) Tackle Mark Moroz, Wake Forest (77) Tackle Gregory Walker, Wake Forest (71) Guard Elton Brown, Virginia (73) Guard Jeb Terry, North Carolina (49) Center David Castillo, Florida State (42)
DEFENSE Player, School (Votes) Defensive Line Eric Moore, Florida State (81) Defensive Line Chris Canty, Virginia (72) Defensive Line Kevin Eli, Maryland (63) Defensive Line Donnell Washington, Clemson (61) Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, Maryland (65) Linebacker Ryan Fowler, Duke (51) Linebacker Pat Thomas, NC State (44) Defensive Back Dexter Reid, North Carolina (63) Defensive Back Domonique Foxworth, Maryland (59) Defensive Back Madieu Williams, Maryland (55) Defensive Back Terrell Smith, Duke (48)
SPECIAL TEAMS Player, School (Votes) Placekicker Connor Hughes, Virginia (81) Punter Adam Podlesh, Maryland (49) Specialist Derrick Hamilton, Clemson (44)
