CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Duke quarterback Ben Bennett, the all-time leading passer in NCAA Division 1-A history, was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year Tuesday.
Bennett was named on 37 of the 100 ballots cast by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Writers Association. Maryland quarterback Boomer Esiason was second with 21 votes, followed by Duke's Mike Grayson with 11.
North Carolina's William Fuller and Clemson's Mike Epply had nine each and Clemson's William Perry five. Others receiving votes included North Carolina's Tyrone Anthony and Brian Blados, Clemson's James Farr and North Carolina State's Joe McIntosh.
Bennett hit 27 of 35 passes against North Carolina Saturday in his final game, boosting his career total to 9,614 yards, 78 more than Jim McMahon of Brigham Young.
He is the first ACC player to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a single season, doing it both last season and this season.
'Being an All-ACC quarterback is a great honor, especially this year and in this conference which has so many great quarterbacks,' Bennett said. 'Being chosen Football Player-of-the-Year is even a greater honor. It singles you out as being the best in this conference which is a great feeling with so many All-Americans in the conference.'
The All-Conference team also was announced Tuesday with North Carolina defensive lineman William Fuller the only unanimous choice. It is the third straight year he has made the team.
Clemson captured seven positions on the team, North Carolina five, Duke and Maryland four each, Virginia and North Carolina State two each, and Wake Forest one. No Georgia Tech players were selected.
Grayson and McIntosh tied for the second running back position, making the selection of a 25-member team necessary.
Clemson placed Farr, tight end K.D. Dunn and kicker Bob Paulling on the offensive team, and defensive linemen Perry, James Robinson and Edgar Pickett and defensive back Rod McSwain.
North Carolina landed wide receiver Mark Smith, tackle Brian Blados and running back Ethan Horton on the offensive team and back Willie Harris and Fuller on the defensive unit.
In addition to Bennett and Grayson, Duke players included wide receiver Mark Militello and center Philip Ebinger.
Maryland placed offensive guard Ron Solt and defensive lineman Pete Koch, linebacker Eric Wilson and defensive back Clarence Baldwin.
Joining McIntosh was North Carolina State teammate Vaughan Johnson, a senior linebacker.
Virginia landed sophomore offensive tackle Jim Dombrowski and defensive back Lester Lyles. Wake Forest placed punter Harry Newsome. Adv for 6:30 p.m.
