Paul, Johnson Named ACC Players of the Week

GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Miami sophomore Gionni Paul and freshman Duke Johnson were named the Atlantic Coast Conference Co-Linebacker and Rookie of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday.

Paul picked up his second ACC weekly honor, while Johnson was named ACC Rookie of the Week for the second straight week and an ACC-leading fourth time this season. Through the first 11 weeks of the season, Miami has tallied 11 ACC Player of the Week honors, including seven by freshmen.

Paul, a 6-foot sophomore LB from Lakeland, Fla., shared Linebacker of the Week honors with Georgia Tech redshirt sophomore Quayshawn Nealy. Playing in place of the injured Denzel Perryman, Paul tallied a career-high 14 tackles (seven solo) in Miami’s 41-40 loss at Virginia. It was his second double-digit tackle game of the season, and his 14 stops are the most by a Hurricane in a game this season.

Johnson rushed for a career-high 150 yards on 16 carries and also threw for a 9-yard touchdown – his career-first pass – Saturday at Virginia. He now has three 100-yard rushing games this season, including 100+ yards in back-to-back games. Johnson amassed a Miami-record 368 all-purpose yards which ranks as the fourth-most in ACC history. He registered 214 kick return yards on four tries, including a 95-yard kick return for a score. His two kick returns for touchdown this season are tied for the most in school history. He also become only the third FBS player since 2000 with a TD pass and a kickoff return for a TD in the same game.

ACC Coastal Division-leading Miami (5-5, 4-3 ACC) will step out of conference play one last time Saturday when it hosts USF (3-6, 1-4 BIG EAST) for Senior Day. Saturday’s game will kick at 3 p.m. ET on RSN.

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