Nov. 26, 2007
ATLANTA – Five members of the Georgia Tech football team, including senior running back Tashard Choice and both Yellow Jacket kicking specialists, were named first team All-ACC, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
In all, nine Yellow Jackets earned all-conference honors – five on the first team, three on the second team and one honorable mention.
Joining Choice on the first team from Georgia Tech were junior offensive tackle Andrew Gardner, junior defensive tackle Vance Walker, senior punter Durant Brooks and senior placekicker Travis Bell. Yellow Jackets named second team All-ACC were senior linebacker Philip Wheeler, senior defensive end Darrell Robertson and senior center Kevin Tuminello. Senior safety Jamal Lewis was named honorable mention.
Georgia Tech, with eight selections, had more players named to the All-ACC first and second teams than any school in the ACC.
Virginia defensive end Chris Long was the only unanimous selection, selected on all 146 ballots. Choice and BostonCollege quarterback Matt Ryan each received votes on 143 ballots.
Choice, who will likely earn the ACC rushing title for the second straight year and is the only player in the league averaging more than 100 yards per game, was a second team selection a year ago. Choice is the first Yellow Jacket running back to earn first team honors since P.J. Daniels in 2003.
Gardner, an honorable mention selection last season, was a standout on the Georgia Tech offensive line in 2007. The Yellow Jackets rank among the ACC leaders in rushing offense and fewest sacks allowed. Gardner is the first Tech offensive lineman named to the first team since Hugh Reilly in 2003 and he is the first offensive tackle named since Nat Dorsey in 2002.
Walker, who leads the team with 8.5 sacks, is one of the ACC’s most improved players. Walker, who also has 14 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, is the second Georgia Tech defensive tackle in as many years to earn first team honors. Last year, defensive tackle Joe Anoai was a first team selection.
Brooks is a first team All-ACC selection for the second year in a row. Brooks, who has the highest career punting average in ACC history, is one of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which will be announced Dec. 6, in Orlando.
Bell made 23-of-28 field goal attempts in 2007, smashing the school single-season record for field goals made. Bell, who also holds the school career field goals record (61), is five points shy of tying the Tech career scoring record.
Three Yellow Jackets were named second team All-ACC. Tuminello has started 38 consecutive games. Wheeler, a second team selection for the second straight year, is Tech’s leading tackler (72 total), and Robertson leads the team in tackles-for-loss (16.0).
Lewis, a first team All-ACC member last season, was named honorable mention.
Since 1982, Georgia Tech has produced 66 All-ACC first team selections and 55 second team members.
Georgia Tech, 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the ACC in 2007, is awaiting word on a postseason bowl bid.
OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM
QB-Matt Ryan, Boston College (143)
RB-Tashard Choice, Georgia Tech (143)
RB-James Davis, Clemson (131)
WR-Aaron Kelly, Clemson (128)
WR-Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest (117)
TE-Ryan Purvis, Boston College (109)
OT-Barry Richardson, Clemson (120)
OT-Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech (85)
OG-Branden Albert, Virginia (105)
OG-Chris McDuffie, Clemson (100)
C-Steve Justice, Wake Forest (122)
SECOND TEAM
QB-Cullen Harper, Clemson (70)
RB-Andre Callender, Boston College (72)
RB-Josh Adams, Wake Forest (51)
WR-Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (75)
WR-Eron Riley, Duke (38)
TE-Tom Santi, Virginia (60)
OT-Duane Brown, Virginia Tech (79)
OT-Gosder Cherilus, Boston College (64)
OG-Andrew Crummey, Maryland (86)
OG-Rodney Hudson, Florida State and Derrick Morse, Miami (51)
C-Kevin Tuminello, Georgia Tech (65)
DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM
DE-Chris Long, Virginia, Sr. (146)*
DE-Chris Ellis, Virginia Tech (70)
DT-Vance Walker, Georgia Tech (93)
DT-Dre Moore, Maryland (51)
LB-Erin Henderson, Maryland (111)
LB-Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech (104)
LB-Geno Hayes, Florida State (69)
CB-Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest (127)
CB-Victor Harris, Virginia Tech (81)
S-Jamie Silva, Boston College (130)
S-Kenny Phillips, Miami (85)
SECOND TEAM
DE-Hilee Taylor, North Carolina (66)
DE-Darrell Robertson, Georgia Tech (36)
DT-Barry Booker, Virginia Tech (50)
DT-Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina (42)
LB-Durell Mapp, North Carolina (64)
LB-Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (54)
LB-Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Boston College, and Philip Wheeler, Georgia Tech (48)
CB-DeJuan Tribble, Boston College (77)
CB-Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech (73)
S-Michael Hamlin, Clemson (49)
S-DaJuan Morgan, N.C. State (48)
SPECIAL TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
K-Travis Bell, Georgia Tech (64)
P-Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech (126)
KR-PR-Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech (74)
SECOND TEAM
K-Gary Cismesia, Florida State (40)
P-Ryan Weigand, Virginia (32)
KR-PR-Darrell Blackman, N.C. State (44)
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Keon Lattimore, RB, Maryland, (25); Brandon Robinson, WR, Boston College, (30); Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia, (46); Kalani Heppe, OG, N.C. State, (21).
DEFENSE: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson, (32); Calais Campbell, DE, Miami, (29); Alex Albright, DE, Boston College, (22); Ron Brace, DT, Boston College, (39); DeMario Pressley, DT, N.C. State, (38); Carlton Powell, DT, Virginia Tech, (25); Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson, (25); Vince Hall, LB, Virginia Tech, (38); Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State, (47); Chip Vaughn, S, Wake Forest, (45); Jamal Lewis, S, Georgia Tech, (25); D.J. Parker, S, Virginia Tech, (23).
SPECIAL TEAMS: Connor Barth, K, North Carolina, (35); Sam Swank, K, Wake Forest, (29); Graham Gano, P, Florida State, (24); Kevin Marion, KR-PR, Wake Forest, (32); C.J. Spiller, KR-PR, Clemson, (27); Brandon Tate, KR-PR, North Carolina, (25).
