Four Jackets make All-ACC first team

Georgia Tech put four players, more than any other school, on the All-ACC first team.

Sophomore B-back Jonathan Dwyer, who led the league with 1,328 rushing yards, joined Wake Forest cornerback Alphonso Smith as the only unanimous choices on the team announced Monday. Dwyer averaged 7.0 yards per carry while running for 12 touchdowns.

Left tackle Andrew Gardner, defensive end Michael Johnson and defensive tackle Vance Walker, all seniors, also were named first team by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Gardner started 48 straight games before a torn labrum ended his college career. Johnson tied for third in the ACC with 15 tackles for loss, including seven sacks, and broke up seven passes. Walker, a premier run-stuffer, had 8.5 tackles for loss.

Right behind Tech were Florida State, Wake Forest, Maryland and Boston College with three players on the first team.

Three Yellow Jackets made the second team: left guard Cord Howard, safety Morgan Burnett (tied for the lead nationally with seven interceptions) and defensive tackle Darryl Richard. Defensive end Derrick Morgan received honorable mention.

While the Jackets did not reach Saturday’s conference championship game in Tampa, their No. 15 BCS ranking is the ACC’s highest.