Dec. 5, 2012
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech senior guard Omoregie Uzzi was selected Wednesday to the first team of the inaugural All-ACC Football Team as selected by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Uzzi was previously named a first-team honoree on the All-ACC Team selected by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA), his third-consecutive mention on that team. The Lithonia (Ga.) product was a first-team selection in 2011 and a second-team pick as a sophomore in 2010.
This year, for the first time under the auspices of the ACC, the league’s 12 head football coaches voted for an All-ACC team, as well as Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year and a Coach of the Year award. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players and cast ballots for two points for first-team and one point for second-team selections.
Uzzi and the offensive line have helped the Yellow Jacket offense average 312.5 yards rushing per game, which ranks fourth nationally. Tech averages more than 440 yards of total offense and 34 points per game.
Five Georgia Tech players were named honorable mention All-ACC by the coaches: junior linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, junior center Jay Finch, sophomore return specialist Jamal Golden, senior running back Orwin Smith and senior defensive tackle T.J. Barnes. Attaochu leads the Yellow Jackets in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (10). Smith is Tech’s leading rusher (61.2 ypg) and Golden is second in the ACC in kick return average (29.0) with two returns for touchdowns.
Georgia Tech, the ACC Coastal Division champion, plays USC on New Year’s Eve in the 79th Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The Yellow Jackets are appearing in a bowl game for the 16th consecutive season, the fourth longest streak in the nation.
