
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Boston College senior defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku (Williamstown, N.J.) was voted the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as announced by the conference on Wednesday. All ACC awards were voted on by a panel of head coaches and media representatives from all 17 programs.
Ezeiruaku is the sixth major award winner from BC since the Eagles joined the ACC in 2005 and first since running back AJ Dillon claimed Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017. He is BC’s third Defensive Player of the Year honoree; joining Mark Herzlich (2008) and Luke Kuechly (2011).
For the season, Ezeiruaku led the ACC and FBS in sacks at 16.5; tying Harold Landry’s BC record originally set in 2016. A First Team All-ACC selection, Ezeiruaku was also tops in the league and second in the country with 20.5 tackles for loss. A three-time ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week, he led the Eagles with 80 tackles, three forced fumbles and 15 quarterback hurries.
Ezeiruaku posted six multi-sack games, including three with a crucial strip-sack against Western Kentucky (9/28). He finished the regular season with a 3.5-sack effort against Pittsburgh (11/30) to tie for the second most in a single game in program history.
This season, Ezeiruaku was a semifinalist for the Bedbarik, Lombardi and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. Locally he claimed the Bulger Lowe Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston and Season Gol Helmet Award from the New England Football Writers.
For his career, Ezeiruaku has tallied 30 sacks, which is the second most in program history behind Mathias Miwanuka’s (2002-05) 37.5.
2024 ACC Awards Winners
Coach of the Year: Rhett Lashlee, SMU
Player of the Year: Cam Ward, Miami
Offensive Player of the Year: Cam Ward, Miami
Defensive Player of the Year: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Rookie of the Year: Isaac Brown, Louisville
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Isaac Brown, Louisville
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Sammy Brown, Clemson
All-Time BC Football ACC Awards Winners
Matt Ryan, 2007 Player of the Year
Mark Herzlich, 2008 Defensive Player of the Year
Luke Kuechly, 2011 Defensive Player of the Year
AJ Dillon, 2017 Rookie of the Year
AJ Dillon, 2017 Offensive Rookie of the Year
Donovan Ezeiruaku, 2024 Defensive Player of the Year
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