Hokies quarterback Pop Watson and kicker John Love earned ACC Player of the Week honors after Saturday’s 37-17 victory over Virginia. Watson was named the league’s Rookie of the Week while Love was the Specialist of the Week for the second time this year.
Watson was outstanding in his first collegiate start for Virginia Tech, completing 14 of his 21 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 48 yards and a score on the ground, too, and was only sacked twice after being brought down seven times a week prior at Duke.
The redshirt freshman from Springfield, Mass., got off to a quick start, completing his first five passes, which included a 42-yard gain to Da’Quan Felton. He added a 66-yard strike to Jaylin Lane in the second quarter and a 40-yard dart to Ali Jennings in the third.
Watson is the first Tech player to be named ACC Rookie of the Week since redshirt freshman quarterback Quincy Patterson accounted for two touchdowns in relief and led the Hokies to a 43-41 win in six overtimes over North Carolina on Oct. 19, 2019.
Love is no stranger to the ACC Specialist of the Week award, having won it in September after a performance at Miami that featured field goals of 52 and a career-long 57 yards.
The redshirt sophomore from Spartanburg, S.C., paced the Hokies with a perfect day against UVa, going 3-of-3 on field goals — from 28, 31 and 44 yards — and 4-of-4 on extra points. On the season, he’s made 15 of his 17 field goal attempts and all 41 of his point-after tries, and he’s 5-of-5 since missing a 55-yarder vs. Clemson.
Love is the second Hokies player to be selected as the ACC Specialist of the Week twice in one season, joining former placekicker Cody Journell, who did so twice in 2012.