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Friday, September 29
Dantzler doing dazzling impersonation of Vick

By Gregg Doyel
Special to ESPN.com

CLEMSON, S.C. -- They were going to make him a defensive back, receiver, running back -- anything but quarterback. Can you believe that? As fictitious as it sounds, it's true. Two years ago the Clemson coaching staff considered giving Woodrow Dantzler a new position.

"We didn't know if he could throw it good enough to run our offense," says second-year Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, who inherited Dantzler, among others, from fired coach Tommy West after the 1998 season. "We found out he could."


	Woodrow Dantzler has thrown for seven TDs and run for five more this season.

Dantzler can throw it, Dantzler can run it -- heck, Dantzler can even catch it. He has one grab for three yards this season, catching a ball that was batted back at him by a Virginia defender.

That was the only act of defiance the Cavaliers could muster Saturday against Dantzler, who submitted his name for Heisman consideration by running for 220 yards and passing for 154 in the Tigers' 31-10 demolition of Virginia in Charlottesville.

"We're not run-oriented or pass-oriented," Dantzler says. "We take what the defense gives us."

Dantzler has taken plenty, and now Bowden hopes the national spotlight, aimed for a year at another small Southern burg -- Blacksburg, Va. -- finds Dantzler. Bowden notes his quarterback is having more of a Michael Vick year than Virginia Tech's Michael Vick himself.

"Michael Vick can eat pancakes off of Woody's head," Bowden said, meaning that as a compliment to the bigger Vick. "(Dantzler) is not as big, not as fast and not as quick. But he's more productive for his team. It's about time people look down here and notice what's going on, because Woody's performing at a higher level."

A higher level than Vick? Or a higher level than Dantzler has ever performed? Bowden wasn't clear, but he might have meant both. Dantzler is on pace to become the first player in ACC history to lead the conference in passing efficiency (he's first at 166.0) and rushing (he's first at 123.8 yards per game).

"I wouldn't compare him to Vick," says Virginia cornerback Tim Spruill. "He's more of a tailback -- probably the best running back we have in the conference."

Running back, quarterback, whatever. At least nobody is calling Dantzler a strong safety.

Right, coach Bowden?

Clemson
Versatile Travis Zachery, who led the Tigers in rushing last season with 827 yards, played at tailback, receiver and punt returner against Virginia, allowing more playing time for tailback Bernard Rambert. ... Linebacker Keith Adams has had at least one sack in three of the first four games. ... Starting guard Jermyn Chester won't play against Duke.

Duke
Starting quarterback Spencer Romine (concussion) won't play against Clemson. Backups are D. Bryant and Bobby Campbell, with Bryant the likely starter. ... Starting linebacker Jamyon Small (thigh) will play after sitting out most of the 26-7 loss to Vanderbilt. ... Senior defensive tackle Nate Krill and junior safety B.J. Hill are 90-percent likely to redshirt, coach Carl Franks says.

Florida State
After missing two games with a sprained ankle, defensive tackle Chris Woods returned last week against Louisville, only to reaggravate the injury; he won't play Thursday against Maryland. ... Also out for the Terps game is starting receiver Javon Walker (ankle). ... Playing on Thursday gives the Seminoles an additional extra days to prepare for Miami Oct. 7.

Georgia Tech
George Godsey had his streak 120 attempts without an interception, third-longest in school history, broken against N.C. State. ... Junior receiver Kelly Campbell's next touchdown will give him a piece of the school career record of 14 shared by Dez White, Gary Lee and Buck Martin. ... Safety Jeremy Muyres (ankle) will play Saturday against UNC.

Maryland
Tailback LaMont Jordan, who doesn't have a 100-yard game through three outings this season, acknowledges his longshot candidacy for the Heisman Trophy is finished. "I'd say the Heisman won't be in my future," he says. ... Two redshirt freshman linemen, guard Lamar Bryant and tackle Eric Dumas, have pulled even with often-injured sophomore Bob Krantz and senior Tim Howard, respectively.

North Carolina
Coach Carl Torbush is amazed at his team's 3-1 record, given its minus-7 turnover rating. ... Sophomore DeFonte Coleman, a converted receiver, has replaced junior Billy-Dee Greenwood at safety. ... Former starting tailback Willie Parker is now No. 3, behind true freshmen Brandon Russell and Andre' Williams. ... Last year's starting tailback, Rufus Brown, has moved past Ronnie Robinson at backup fullback.

N.C. State
Linebacker Clayton White (broken arm), a Butkus candidate, will miss the rest of the regular season. ... Junior Corey Lyons replaces White, with true freshmen the backups at outside linebacker: Roger Pollard and Chip Thomas. ... Coach Chuck Amato called Georgia Tech's George O'Leary Wednesday to apologize for receiver Koren Robinson's throat-slash gesture last week.

Virginia
True freshman Jonathan Ward is off to a better start than ex-Cav Tiki Barber, now with the New York Giants. Ward has 48 yards in 11 carries, better than Barber's two-game Virginia total of 41 yards on 16 carries. ... Redshirt freshman quarterback Bryson Spinner made his much-awaited debut for two plays against Clemson, pitching to Antwoine Womack for a 3-yard touchdown and handing to Tyree Foreman for a first down on third-and-1.

Wake Forest
Sophomore quarterback C.J. Leak underwent surgery on his left knee Tuesday and will spend the rest of the semester recuperating at home in Charlotte ... Leak's replacement, Anthony Young, gets a bonus this week against Virginia in the probably returns of tackles Michael Collins (knee) and Blake Henry (knee). ... Young's backups are sophomore James MacPherson -- who missed the preseason with a knee injury suffered in the spring -- and freshman Jeff Whitaker, recruited as a kicker.

Gregg Doyel covers the ACC for The Charlotte Observer.

ALSO SEE
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AUDIO/VIDEO
video

Woody Dantzler runs 75 yards through Virginia's defense.
avi: 1388 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

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