WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

Russell Wilson named ACC Rookie of the Year

Dec 2, 2008

Raleigh, N.C. — Russell Wilson officially found out today what most people already knew – that he was the ACC rookie of the year.

Wilson is also the offensive rookie of the year, and the voting was not even close.

Miami linebacker Sean Spence took the defensive rookie honor.

The Wolfpack quarterback recieved 62 out of a possible 67 votes in both categories. It marks the first time the Wolfpack has taken the rookie of the year since T.A. McClendon in 2002.

Overall, N.C. State players haves garnered the award more than any other ACC school, with nine total.

Also announced today was the coach of the year, and again there was not much of a surprise in Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson. He took 46 of the possible 67 votes.

First – year Duke head coach David Cutcliffe recieved four votes, while Butch Davis of North Carolina got two and N.C. State's Tom O'Brien recieved one.

The Atlantic Coast Conference awards are released by The Associated Press and voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Here's how the voting went.

Rookie of the Year – Russell Wilson, N.C. State(62) Darren Evans, Virginia Tech(4) Sean Spence, Miami(1)

Offensive Rookie of the Year – Russell Wilson, N.C. State(62) Darren Evans, Virginia Tech(5)

Defensive Rookie of the Year – Sean Spence, Miami(39) Brandon Maye, Clemson(11) Robert Quinn, North Carolina(8) Seven other players recieved votes

Coach of the Year – Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech(46) Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College(12) David Cutcliffe, Duke(4) Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech(2) Butch Davis,North Carolina(2) Tom O'Brien, N.C. State(1)