Senior linebackers Nate Irving of N.C. State and Mark Herzlich of Boston College, who bounced back from life-threatening situations to lead their respective teams’ defenses, will receive the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award, the conference announced today.

The award has been given annually since 1972 in memory of the late Wake Forest and Chicago Bears running back whose fight with a cancer inspired the entire football community.

GREENSBORO -- After missing all of last season battling cancer, it would be enough just to see Mark Herzlich on the field again. Doctors told him he’d never run again, so merely putting on a helmet would mean the Boston College linebacker has far exceeded expectations.

That’s not good enough for Herzlich.

“I’m pushing to get back to where I was,” Herzlich said. “Settling for anything less, or even expecting anything less, it would make no sense to come out and play again.”

Quarterback Dominique Davis has decided to transfer from Boston College, the school said Tuesday. It's another hit in an offseason full of hits for the Eagles.

Coach Jeff Jagodzinski was fired, and replaced by defensive assistant Frank Spaziani, earlier this offseason and star linebacker Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with cancer, sidelining him for the '09 season.

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the 2008 ACC defensive player of the year, made a shocking announcement Thursday.

He disclosed that he has been diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a malignant tumor most often found in bone or soft tissue.

"Obviously, I was shocked," Herzlich said in a statement released by Boston College.