Congrats to our All-ACC Players!

[Acymetric]

Congrats to Mike Tauiliili for making 1st team defense, with Eron Riley and Thad Lewis making 2nd team offense. Vince O. got honorable mention. Here's to many more guys getting these honors in the future.

Now to get Mike his ACC DPOY award!

Here is the list (http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120108aab.html). I'm a little shocked that Mike wasn't unanimous, but he was close. Again, great to see two of our seniors honored like this. 2nd team All-ACC QB good enough for you guys?

[jimsumner]

" Headlined by first team selection Michael Tauiliili, four Duke players received All-ACC honors as the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association announced the 2008 Associated Press football all-conference teams.

Joining Tauiliili from Duke were second team choices Thaddeus Lewis and Eron Riley and honorable mention pick Vince Oghobaase.

A senior linebacker from Houston, Texas, Tauiliili finished the regular season with a conference-best 140 tackles and added 13.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, five pass breakups, five quarterback pressures, three caused fumbles and one fumble recovery. A two-time ACC Player of the Week pick and the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week choice after Duke's 31-3 win over Virginia, Tauiliili is the only linebacker in the conference to rank among the top 10 in four different statistical categories. Tauiliili is the first Duke linebacker to earn first team all-conference honors since John Zuanich did so in 1994.

Oghobaase, a junior defensive tackle from Houston, Texas, posted 51 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and a team-high 6.0 quarterback sacks in 2008. All six of his sacks came in league play as he helped the Blue Devils hold three opponents to fewer than 10 points for the first time since 1976.

Oghobaase and Tauiliili were primary reasons that Duke made significant improvement in scoring defense (-9.8 points), total defense (-67.4 yards), rushing defense (-28.7 yards) and passing defense (-38.7 yards) while facing the 2nd most difficult schedule in the nation -- a ledger that included 10 bowl eligible teams and the top-ranked FCS squad in James Madison.

Lewis and Riley, who teamed up over the past three seasons to form the most prolific quarterback-wide receiver tandem in Duke football history, both received second team honors. The duo hooked up for 19 touchdowns through the air to surpass the previous record of 16 held by the pairs of Ben Bennett-to-Chris Castor and Steve Slayden-to-Doug Green.

A junior quarterback from Opa-Locka, Fla., Lewis completed 224-of-361 (.620) passes for 2,171 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions this year. He ranks second in the ACC in total offense (206.1), passing yards per game (197.4) and touchdown passes while standing third in passing efficiency (122.95). Lewis set school records for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception (206) and most pass attempts in a single-game without an interception (52 vs. N.C. State) and was named ACC Player of the Week after 317-yard, three-touchdown day against Navy. On Duke's single-season records lists, Lewis' 2008 totals stand seventh for pass completions, ninth for pass attempts and tied for eighth in touchdown passes. Lewis becomes the first Blue Devil signal caller to garner all-conference accolades since 1988 when Anthony Dilweg was a first team pick.

Riley, a senior wide receiver from Savannah, Ga., received his second straight second team all-conference citation. In 2008, he hauled in 61 passes for 693 yards and eight touchdowns to rank second in the league in receptions per game (5.08) and touchdown grabs and fourth in receiving yards per outing (57.8). On Duke's all-time charts, Riley finished his career ranking seventh in receptions (144), second in receiving yards (2,413) and third in touchdown catches (22).

The 2008 Associated Press All-ACC football teams are voted on by 67 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association."

This is about as good as Duke could expect and a significant improvement over some years when Duke hasn't been represented at all.

[Acymetric]

Does anybody know when All-American and conference POY awards are announced? I'm sure Jim does, I can't believe I beat him to the punch on this one! I'm sure that'll never happen again.

[Inonehand]

In this, I'm very disappointed.

[Acymetric]

In this, I'm very disappointed.

I was a little bit, but I would have expected honorable mention at best, to be honest. They weren't going to give us two All-ACC linebackers. I'm sure he recieved at least a few votes though, I wonder what the cutoff for honorable mention is, probably 20 votes or so?

[jimsumner]

The ACC was absolutely loaded at linebacker this year. Probably not realistic for a 4-8 team to get 2 of 6 spots at the deepest position in the league.

Look for Herzlich at BC to be defensive POY. Announced in a few days.

A-As should start coming out next week,

[CameronBornAndBred]

In this, I'm very disappointed.
Ditto to that, very surprising. Vincent should have been at least second team if not honorable mention. JS has a good point though. Congrats to all who did make the lists!

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

In this, I'm very disappointed.

I was also disappointed not to see Vinny's name anywhere, but next year may be his year to be honored.

[Acymetric]

In addition...congrats to Mike Tauiliili for getting defensive player of the week for the ACC (linemen).

[SilkyJ]

Eron was only 5 votes back of making 1st team. Very impressive.

And I agree the best is yet to come. Great season, I haven't been looking forward to next August so quickly in a while.

[jv001]

Eron was only 5 votes back of making 1st team. Very impressive.

And I agree the best is yet to come. Great season, I haven't been looking forward to next August so quickly in a while.

Eron probably missed first team only because his hand injury kept him from making plays that he ordinarily would have made. He had several drops the last few games. Looking for improvement in our football program in the years to come. Go Duke!

[PumpkinFunk]

Eron probably missed first team only because his hand injury kept him from making plays that he ordinarily would have made. He had several drops the last few games. Looking for improvement in our football program in the years to come. Go Duke!

He also started bunching out safeties in our last two games when they stopped passes... something which might've contributed slightly. The drops certainly were a major reason, but this might've been another.

[jimsumner]

"Eron probably missed first team only because his hand injury kept him from making plays that he ordinarily would have made."

Thad's injury hurt Eron's production big time. Eron got very little in the Clemson and VT games. Add 8-10 catches in those games with a healthy Lewis and it becomes easier to see Riley at first team.

Still, Boldin and Nicks very much deserved first-team and Eron beat out some really good WRs to make second-team.

[jv001]

"Eron probably missed first team only because his hand injury kept him from making plays that he ordinarily would have made."

Thad's injury hurt Eron's production big time. Eron got very little in the Clemson and VT games. Add 8-10 catches in those games with a healthy Lewis and it becomes easier to see Riley at first team.

Still, Boldin and Nicks very much deserved first-team and Eron beat out some really good WRs to make second-team.

Good points.