Duke coach David Cutcliffe didn’t hold back in describing what he thinks of senior safety Matt Daniels, who played at Fayette County High.
“Matt Daniels, I’m telling you, there is an All-American football player,” Cutcliffe told goduke.com this week. “I’ve been fortunate to be around a bunch of them and coach a whole lot of them. Matt Daniels is an All-American, a first-team All-American. He’s had an incredible year, not only as a player but as a leader.”
Daniels, who is second in the nation in passes defended with 1.88 per game, is coming off one of best games of his career.
He had two red-zone interceptions in a 14-10 loss to Virginia Tech and had another pick overturned by replay when it showed that he stepped out of bounds. Daniels also is tied for the team lead with 13 tackles, giving him 82 for the season, which is third in the ACC and third nationally among defensive backs.
“This summer I worked very hard on my footwork and technique things that allowed me to cover better,” he told the website. “Film watching is another big thing that’s allowed me to make breaks on these balls. I worked on my hands over the summer. Just a lot of little things that really helped my coverage ability.”
Daniels was best known for his running ability at Fayette County. He rushed for 1,486 yards and scored 19 touchdowns as a senior in 2007, but became an immediate contributor on defense as a freshman at Duke.
In focus
Freshmen continue to make an impact throughout the ACC.
Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins already has set conference freshman marks for catches (64), yards (978) and touchdown receptions (10) as he continues to make dazzling catches and runs.
North Carolina redshirt freshman running back Giovani Bernard leads the conference with 12 scores and has rushed for 965 yards to lead all freshman backs in the country with 107.2 yards per game.
In fact, ACC freshmen have scored 77 touchdowns, more than any other conference in the nation.
Other contributors include: Virginia running back Kevin Parks, who has seven touchdowns; Florida State receiver Rashad Greene, with six; and Georgia Tech backup quarterback Synjyn Days (Hillgrove), who has four.
On defense, Maryland linebacker Lorne Goree has 48 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks, Wake Forest cornerback Merrill Noel leads the nation with 16 passes defended and Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman, who hasn’t started a game this year, but has 41 tackles and forced two fumbles.
Burning question
Can Al Golden turn Miami around?
He promised this week — after a 28-21 loss to Virginia — that there will be personnel changes before Saturday’s game against Duke.
Some of the “guys on the team still think this is intramurals,” Golden said on a local radio show. He went on to describe some players as “clock-punchers.”
Golden didn’t comment on the changes or single out players.
As for the future, Miami is facing NCAA sanctions, and Golden must change what seems to be a malaise within the program, but he seems determined to stick it out and return the Hurricanes (4-4, 2-3 ACC) to national prominence.
There have been reports that Miami wants to restructure Golden’s five-year, $10 million contract, but Golden said Wednesday: “I just want to make sure I’m clear to everybody that we love it here at Miami. My wife, kids and I, and the staff, we love it here. We’ve got incredible support from the president and [athletic director] Shawn Eichorst, and we’re certain that support will continue in a number of ways moving forward.”
Etc.
FSU’s Shawn Powell (Darlington) has placed 10 of his 25 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line this season, with six inside the 10. … Bryan Davis (Lithia Springs) is the second-string left guard at Boston College. … Terence Davis (Brookwood) has 14 catches for 211 yards and three touchdowns for Wake Forest. … North Carolina State fullback Logan Winkles (Upson-Lee) has returned from a knee injury and has played in the past four games. … Clemson backup cornerback Darius Robinson (Westlake) has 17 tackles and an interception.
Quotable
“Five, three, four [days of rest], it doesn’t matter, as long as we get a chance to go out there and play. And it’s a national game. A lot of guys haven’t been up to Boston before. It’ll be a night game, it’ll be on ESPN and things like that. I don’t think it’ll matter at all.” — FSU quarterback EJ Manuel on playing on playing five days after the previous game
“There are games throughout the year where you can just tell ... you know that it’s not just a normal game that you play during the season.” — North Carolina State coach Tom O’Brien on Saturday’s game against North Carolina
By the numbers
3 ACC opponents that Notre Dame will play this month, beginning with Wake Forest on Saturday. The Irish play Maryland on Nov. 12 and Boston College on Nov. 19.
126 Yards needed by Wake Forest's Chris Givens to set the school's single-season mark for receiving yards, set by Ricky Proehl, who had 1,053 in 1989.
Schedule
Thursday
FSU at Boston College, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday
North Carolina at North Carolina State, 12:30 p.m. (WUPA)
Virginia at Maryland, 12:30 p.m.
Duke at Miami, 3 p.m. (FSSO)
Notre Dame at Wake Forest, 8 p.m. (ABC)
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