Dec. 23, 2008
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech sophomore B-back Jonathan Dwyer and sophomore safety Morgan Burnett have been named All-Americans by Pro Football News. The team annually honors the most talented players in college football and is determined based on considerable feedback from NFL evaluators taking into consideration a player’s pure talent and contribution to his team. Unlike many other teams awarding the best college football players, Pro Football Weekly places an extra premium on true talent and draft value in the selection process.
Dwyer and Burnett are two of the 13 underclassmen on the team.
Dwyer, who was recently voted the ACC Player of the Year by Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA), is attempting to give Georgia Tech the ACC rushing title for the third straight year, following Tashard Choice in 2006 and 2007. He leads the ACC in rushing with 1,328 yards (110.7 yards per game). He has rushed for 100 yards in a game nine times this season to tie a school record, and he has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in four consecutive games. Over the last four games — all against nationally-ranked opponents (Florida State, North Carolina, Miami and Georgia) — Dwyer has rushed for 574 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Marietta (Ga.) native has rushed for 12 touchdowns in 2008 — the fifth-most single-season rushing TD’s in Tech history. This season, Dwyer has produced the longest run from scrimmage in Yellow Jacket history (88 yards vs. Mississippi State) and the fourth-longest run (85 yards vs. North Carolina). He also has runs of 66, 60 and 58 yards.
Burnett is tied for the NCAA lead in interceptions with seven, including a 35-yard INT return for a touchdown against Georgia Nov. 29. The College Park (Ga.) native leads the Yellow Jackets in tackles (79) to go with 5.5 tackles-for-loss, eight pass break-ups and a forced fumble. He was also a second team All-ACC pick.
The No. 14 Yellow Jackets will take on LSU in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl, New Year’s Eve in the Georgia Dome (7:30 p.m./ESPN).
