Nov. 29, 2006
Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the overwhelming choice as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, announced Wednesday.
Johnson, who was also the choice as ACC Offensive Player of the Year, is just the second player in Tech history to be named ACC Player of the Year, following quarterback and Heisman Trophy runnerup Joe Hamilton in 1999.
The junior from Tyrone, Ga., received 66 of the 80 votes for ACC Player of the Year to easily outdistance Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams, who was selected ACC Defensive Player of the Year. “It’s a great honor to be named ACC Player of the Year,” said Johnson. “I have to give credit to my teammates and coaches. Any time you win individual awards, you have to have a great team around you. We achieved one of our goals by making it to Jacksonville (for the ACC Championship game), but we still have more that we want to accomplish.”
Earlier the week, he made the all-ACC first-team for the third straight year, the first three-time, first-team all-ACC selection in school history.
Other accolades already accumumlated by Johnson this fall include Biletnikoff Award finalist, Maxwell Award semifinalist, and Walter Camp Award Player to Watch.
Johnson ranks third in the nation with 13 touchdown catches. He has 59 receptions for 889 yards.
Johnson and the 22nd-ranked Yellow Jackets meet No. 16 Wake Forest in Saturday’s ACC Championship Game at 1 p.m. at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
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