University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Ratliff-Williams Earns First-Team All-ACC Honors
November 27, 2017 | Football
GREENSBORO, N.C. --- Anthony Ratliff-Williams was named to the All-ACC first team as a return specialist, the league office announced Monday. The sophomore from Matthews, North Carolina, was also named a third-team selection as an all-purpose back. Senior cornerback M.J. Stewart and sophomore punter Tom Sheldon earned honorable mention at their respective positions.
Ratliff-Williams emerged as one of the nation's top return men in his second season on the field for the Tar Heels. His kickoff return touchdowns against Louisville and Pitt tied a school single-season record and matched the combined total of kickoff return touchdowns for the rest of the ACC. His 895 kickoff return yards currently lead the country and rank fourth in UNC history.Â
Ratliff-Williams was dynamic on offense as well, leading Carolina in receptions (35), receiving yards (630) and receiving touchdowns (6). Overall, he ended the regular season ranked third in the league in all-purpose yards per game at 127.2 per contest. Ratliff-Williams also proved to be a dangerous passer, completing 3 of 4 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he was responsible for 10 touchdowns (six receiving, two passing, two return).
Stewart etched his name in the Carolina defensive record books with 12 pass breakups in his senior campaign, giving him 41 for his career. That number is a new UNC record for pass breakups, surpassing Robert Williams' mark of 40 set from 1995-97. The Arlington, Virginia, native also had 45 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks on the year.
Sheldon was on his way to having one of the finest punting seasons in school history before injuries cost him four of the final six games of the year. The sophomore from Australia had a 45.8-yard average across 45 punts, a mark that would have led the league if he'd had enough punts to qualify. Sheldon just missed the school record for single-game punting on two occasions, averaging 53.5 yards per punt against Louisville and 53.0 against Notre Dame. The UNC mark of 54.4 yards per punt was set by Bud Wallace in 1950.
Ratliff-Williams emerged as one of the nation's top return men in his second season on the field for the Tar Heels. His kickoff return touchdowns against Louisville and Pitt tied a school single-season record and matched the combined total of kickoff return touchdowns for the rest of the ACC. His 895 kickoff return yards currently lead the country and rank fourth in UNC history.Â
Ratliff-Williams was dynamic on offense as well, leading Carolina in receptions (35), receiving yards (630) and receiving touchdowns (6). Overall, he ended the regular season ranked third in the league in all-purpose yards per game at 127.2 per contest. Ratliff-Williams also proved to be a dangerous passer, completing 3 of 4 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns. For the season, he was responsible for 10 touchdowns (six receiving, two passing, two return).
Stewart etched his name in the Carolina defensive record books with 12 pass breakups in his senior campaign, giving him 41 for his career. That number is a new UNC record for pass breakups, surpassing Robert Williams' mark of 40 set from 1995-97. The Arlington, Virginia, native also had 45 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks on the year.
Sheldon was on his way to having one of the finest punting seasons in school history before injuries cost him four of the final six games of the year. The sophomore from Australia had a 45.8-yard average across 45 punts, a mark that would have led the league if he'd had enough punts to qualify. Sheldon just missed the school record for single-game punting on two occasions, averaging 53.5 yards per punt against Louisville and 53.0 against Notre Dame. The UNC mark of 54.4 yards per punt was set by Bud Wallace in 1950.
Players Mentioned
Wide Receiver
/ Football
Punter
/ Football
Cornerback
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