SPORTS BRIEFS: Darton’s Darwin Espinal named All-American

Darton’s Espinal named All-American

Darton State College sophomore Darwin Espinal was named to NJCAA Division I All-America soccer team on Tuesday. Espinal played an integral role in helping the Cavaliers win the Region 17 title before falling in the Southeast District Finals to Louisburg College.

The Cavaliers finished the season with a 12-6-1 record. Espinal led the team with 29 goals, finishing just one shy of the school record of 30 set by Mynor Perez in 2010.

Albany State men fall at Georgia College

The last time Albany State met Georgia College, the Rams squeaked out a last-second buzzer-beater from Larry Bullock to win.

In the rematch Tuesday night in Milledgeville, Albany State couldn’t duplicate its heroics from the previous meeting as Georgia College scored a 77-64 victory.

Bullock led the Rams with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Chris Wheeler added 12 points and nine rebounds, while Demetri Wheeler finished with 10 rebounds for the Rams, who fell to 3-3 on the season.

Albany State won’t have to leave Albany again until Jan. 3. ASU has three home games remaining on its December schedule, including its next game on Dec. 12 against Point University.

Johnson earns ACC coach of year award

Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson is the Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year for the third time.

In voting results released Tuesday, Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya was picked as the league’s rookie of the year.

Johnson received 32 of 55 votes cast by Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association members for the coaching award while Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher had 14.

Johnson — who won the award in 2008 and ‘09 — guided No. 12 Georgia Tech to a 10-2 record, the Coastal Division championship and a spot opposite No. 2 Florida State in the ACC title game.

Kaaya, who threw an ACC-best 25 touchdowns, received 22 votes for the overall rookie award and 33 in offensive rookie voting.

Virginia safety Quin Blanding is the league’s defensive rookie of the year.

Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson finished third in overall (seven votes) and second in offensive (10) voting.

Blanding received 37 votes for the defensive award while Clemson defensive back Mackenzie Alexander had 10.

Kaaya’s 2,962 yards passing this season are the fourth-most by a freshman in league history. Blanding led all freshmen in the Bowl Subdivision with 10.3 tackles per game.

Greene, Winston named to All-ACC team

The All-ACC Team was announced earlier this week and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston of No. 2 Florida State was the first-team quarterback for the second straight year.

Ten players from Atlantic Division champion Florida State made the first team.

The Seminoles’ opponent in the ACC championship game, No. 12 Georgia Tech, had none.

Winston’s total of 142 points was fewer than six other offensive players, including teammates Rashad Greene (157) and kicker Roberto Aguayo (153). Greene is a former Westover High School standout.

In all, Florida State had five offensive linemen picked to the three all-conference teams, with tackle Cameron Erving and guard Tre Jackson making the first team.

Hoke out as Michigan coach

Brady Hoke is out after four years at Michigan.

Interim athletic director Jim Hackett made the announcement Tuesday after weeks of speculation about Hoke’s future.

“I wanted to make sure that Brady received adequate time to exhibit the results that would come from his effort and I believe that Brady and our coaching staff had enough time to produce those results and unfortunately they are not there,” said Hackett, who took over as AD last month. “In the end, I feel that moving in a different direction is the right decision.”

Hoke did not return a message left seeking comment. In a statement provided by the school, he thanked his players and said he would miss them.

“I feel very fortunate to have been an assistant and head coach at the University of Michigan,” said Brady Hoke. “I will always support the university and this football program.”

Hired after the tumultuous tenure of Rich Rodriguez, Hoke was supposed to help Michigan regain its place among college football’s elite, and his familiarity with the program’s culture and tradition made the initial transition a successful one.

But after going to the Sugar Bowl in Hoke’s first season, the Wolverines slowly slipped back into mediocrity and are not even among the top teams in the Big Ten. Hoke was 31-20 as the Wolverines’ coach after the team floundered to a 5-7 record this season and missed out on bowl eligibility along with Big Ten also-rans Indiana, Purdue and Northwestern. He was just 18-14 against conference foes.

Georgia’s Green to transfer

University of Georgia sophomore safety J.J. Green has decided to transfer to another institution, according to Bulldog head coach Mark Richt.

“J.J. and I talked a couple of times and he wanted the opportunity to be an offensive player,” said Richt. “He decided another school would better afford him that opportunity. We’ll help him in any way we can to find the right place.”

Green played in all 13 games last season at tailback and started in two of those contests. The Kingsland, Ga., native was second on the team with 68 carries for 384 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 12 catches for 104 yards and seven kickoff returns for 168 yards in 2013.

This year, Green switched to defense and played in eight games in the defensive backfield, starting one. He finished with nine tackles.