Boston College Athletics
Six Eagles Named To All-ACC Teams
December 01, 2008 | Football
Dec. 1, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Six Boston College football student-athletes were named to the 2008 ACSMA/AP All-ACC Football Team, announced December 1 by the conference. Highlighting the selections for BC were junior LB Mark Herzlich, senior DT B.J. Raji, and senior OG Clif Ramsey, who were each voted to the All-ACC First Team.
Senior DT Ron Brace, sophomore OT Anthony Castonzo, and senior TE Ryan Purvis were each voted to the All-ACC Second Team.
Herzlich leads the Boston College defense with 98 tackles, 74 solo tackles, seven pass break-ups, six interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles. He ranks fifth in the nation in solo tackles per game with 6.17.
Herzlich's six interceptions this season ties the amount that all BC linebackers had in 2007. He owns the fifth highest interception total in the country (four are tied with seven) and is one of just two linebackers in the nation with six interceptions. He is one of three linebackers in the country with two interception returns for touchdowns.
Raji has been a force in the middle of the BC defensive line. He has accumulated 33 tackles on the season and leads the Eagles with 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. Raji has also recorded four pass break-ups and a pair of quarterback hurries.
Brace has racked up 21 tackles on the season despite playing through a nagging injury in his back. His nine tackles for a loss are fourth on the team and his three sacks are third.
Their presence on the front line has anchored one of the best defenses in the country. The Eagles rank seventh in the nation in rushing defense (87.3), eighth in total defense (276.67), and ninth in pass efficiency defense (99.37).
Ramsey and Castonzo have started all 12 games this season at left guard and left tackle, respectively. They lead an offensive line that ranks 21st in the country in tackles for a loss allowed (4.58) and 31st in sacks allowed (1.42). The Eagles have allowed 17 sacks with two first-year starting QBs in senior Chris Crane and redshirt freshman Dominique Davis behind them.
BC also features two true freshmen at tailback. Montel Harris has recorded five 100-yard games and broke the freshman rushing record at Boston College on Saturday. Harris and Josh Haden are the second-best true freshman running back pair in the country with an average of 112.40 yards per game.
Purvis has caught 20 passes for 147 yards but has taken on more of a blocking role this year with the new offense. His 106 career receptions rank 17th all-time at Boston College.
In addition to the six mentioned above, senior SS Paul Anderson, sophomore OG Thomas Claiborne, and junior C Matt Tennant all earned Honorable Mention honors.
OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM
QB - Russell Wilson, N.C. State (106)
RB - Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech (134)*
RB - Da'Rel Scott, Maryland (76)
WR - Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (130)
WR - D.J. Boldin, Wake Forest (76)
TE - John Phillips, Virginia (88)
OT - Eugene Monroe, Virginia (117)
OT - Andrew Gardner, Georgia Tech (107)
OG - Rodney Hudson, Florida State (99)
OG - Clif Ramsey, Boston College (78)
C - Edwin Williams, Maryland (62)
SECOND TEAM
QB - Thaddeus Lewis, Duke (28)
RB - Darren Evans, Virginia Tech (58)
RB - C.J. Spiller, Clemson (50)
WR - Eron Riley, Duke (57)
WR - Aaron Kelly, Clemson (56)
TE - Ryan Purvis, Boston College (45)
OT - Garrett Reynolds, North Carolina (42)
OT - Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (41)
OG - Sergio Render, Virginia Tech (48)
OG - Cord Howard, Georgia Tech (45)
C - Thomas Austin, Clemson (48)
DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM
DE - Everette Brown, Florida State (131)
DE - Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech (99)
DT - B.J. Raji, Boston College (103)
DT - Vance Walker, Georgia Tech (62)
LB - Mark Herzlich, Boston College (118)
LB - Michael Tauiliili, Duke (110)
LB - Aaron Curry, Wake Forest (106)
CB - Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest (134)*
CB - Victor Harris, Virginia Tech (125)
S - Trimane Goddard, North Carolina (105)
S - Michael Hamlin, Clemson (89)
SECOND TEAM
DE - Orion Martin, Virginia Tech (61)
DE - Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech (39)
DT - Ron Brace, Boston College (52)
DT - Darryl Richard, Georgia Tech (50)
LB - Clint Sintim, Virginia (79)
LB - Alex Wujciak, Maryland (43)
LB - Mark Paschal, North Carolina (40)
CB - Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (49)
CB - Tony Carter, Florida State (34)
CB - Kendric Burney, North Carolina (34)
S - Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech (85)
S - Myron Rolle, Florida State (55)
SPECIAL TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
K - Graham Gano, Florida State (127)
P - Travis Baltz, Maryland (105)
Specialist - C.J. Spiller, Clemson (66)
SECOND TEAM
K - Matt Bosher, Miami (34)
P - Matt Bosher, Miami (60)
Specialist - Michael Ray Garvin, Florida State (41)
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Riley Skinner, qb, Wake Forest (26); Antone Smith, rb, Florida State (33); Cedric Peerman, rb, Virginia (30); Darius Heyward-Bey, wr, Maryland (34); Kevin Ogletree, wr, Virginia (32); Dan Gronkowski, te, Maryland (41); Scott Burley, ot, Maryland (34); Thomas Claiborne, og, Boston College (38); Calvin Darity, og, North Carolina (34); Jaimie Thomas, og, Maryland (33); Nick Marshman, og, Virginia Tech (24); Ryan McMahon, c, Florida State (35); Matt Tennant, c, Boston College (33); Ryan Shuman, c, Virginia Tech (23).
DEFENSE: Derrick Morgan, de, Georgia Tech (26); Willie Young, de, N.C. State (25); Vince Oghobaase, dt, Duke (40); Boo Robinson, de, Wake Forest (31); Jeremy Navarre, dt, Maryland (29); Nate Irving, lb, N.C. State (28); Paul Anderson, s, Boston College (35); Anthony Reddick, s, Miami (23).
SPECIAL TEAMS: Dustin Keys, k, Virginia Tech (25); Brandon Tate, spec., North Carolina (33); T.J. Graham, spec., N.C. State (31).
*Unanimous selection; points received in parentheses
