CLEMSON, SC -
Two North Carolina honorees lead a group of nine
student-athletes recognized as Atlantic Coast Conference Football Players of
the Week, as announced by the conference on Monday. Running back/punt returner
Giovani Bernard was honored as ACC Specialist of the Week, while guard Jonathan
Cooper earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors following the Tar Heels'
dramatic 43-35 ACC win over NC State on Saturday.
Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd was named Offensive Back of
the Week after throwing for a school-record 428 yards and five touchdowns in
the Tigers' 42-13 win over Wake Forest. The Tigers' Sammy Watkins, who hauled
in eight of Boyd's passes for a school-record 202 yards and one touchdown,
received ACC Receiver of the Week honors.
OFFENSIVE BACK – Tajh Boyd, Clemson, Jr., QB, 6-1, 225,
Hampton, Va.
Boyd completed 27 of 38 passes for 428 yards and five
touchdowns without an interception in Clemson's 42-13 win over Wake Forest last
Thursday night. He also had 16 carries
for 27 yards, giving him 455 yards of total offense. The 428 yards passing were
an all-time Clemson single-game record, while his 455 yards of total offense
were second best. Boyd threw all five of his touchdown passes in the first
half, including four in the second quarter when he took the Tigers to 28
points. That set a record for touchdown
passes in a half as well. He tied the
single-game touchdown record. His pass efficiency rating for the game was 208,
also the best in school history given a minimum of 35 attempts.
RECEIVER – Sammy Watkins, Clemson, So., 6-1, 200, Fort
Myers, Fla.
Watkins had eight receptions for 202 yards and a
touchdown in Clemson's 42-13 victory over Wake Forest. Watkins touchdown was a 61-yard catch and run
down the sidelines in the second period.
He had 177 receiving yards in the first half when Clemson broke the game
open. He had three catches of at least
50 yards in the game, also a first. The 202 receiving yards set a Clemson
single game record, breaking the previous record of 197 yards by DeAndre
Hopkins earlier this year at Boston College.
Watkins also had four yards rushing to finish with 206 all-purpose
yards.
