Joe Vellano Class: Junior Hometown: Rexford, N.Y. High School: Christian Brothers Academy Height / Weight: 6-2 / 285 Position: Defensive Lineman Experience: 2V

A hard-nosed fourth-year defensive lineman who has molded himself into an all-league performer ... anchors the interior of the defensive line ... quick first step with a good motor ... emerged in the spring of 2010 and has since been atop the depth chart at DT ... a 2011 consensus preseason first team All-ACC selection ... a first-team pick by Athlon, Blue Ribbon and Sporting News ... a second-team choice by Lindy's and Phil Steele ... one of four team captains (also Andrew Gonnella, Davin Meggett and Kenny Tate) this season.

As a Sophomore (2010): A second team All-ACC selection by ACSMA ... a third-team choice by Phil Steele ... started at defensive tackle in all 13 games ... led the team with five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss ... ranked seventh on the team in tackles (63), tops among d-linemen ... his 4.9 tackle-per-game average was fourth in the ACC among defensive linemen ... tied for 15th in the ACC in sacks (0.38 per game) ... earned the James M. Tatum Award for the defensive lineman of the year at the season-ending banquet ... recorded career highs in tackles (10), solo stops (5), tackles for loss (3.0) and sacks (2.0) in the season-opening win over Navy (9/6) ... had just one career tackle before that game ... earned ACC Defensive Lineman of Week for his play ... chipped in four tackles, including 1.5 TFL and 1.0 sacks, vs. Morgan State (9/11) ... had a pair of stops vs. WVU (9/18) and six tackles, including 1.5 TFL, vs. FIU (9/25) ... tied for third on the team with seven tackles against Duke (10/2), including 2.5 tackles for loss while matching his career high with 2.0 sacks ... also had a career-best two PBUs vs. the Blue Devils ... recorded five tackles against Clemson (10/16) ... in on four stops vs. BC (10/23) ... recorded three tackles against Wake Forest (10/30) ... had two solo stops and a blocked PAT vs. Miami (11/6) ... had eight tackles, including a half tackle for loss, vs. Virginia (11/13) ... posted six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, against NC State (11/27) ... had four tackles and the first forced fumble of his career vs. East Carolina in the Military Bowl (12/29). As a Redshirt Freshman (2009): Played in five games as a reserve defensive tackle ... broke his right foot in preseason camp and missed the first six games of the season ... saw time vs. Virginia (10/17), Duke (10/24), NC State (11/7), Virginia Tech (11/14) and BC (11/28) ... assisted on a tackle vs. the Eagles.

As a Freshman (2008): Redshirt season ... orginially signed with the Terps in 2007, but did not matriculate until January ... took part in spring practice.

At Christian Brothers Academy: A three-year letterwinner at defensive tackle ... second team all-state selection and Section II Player of the Year his senior year, when he was team captain ... ranked by SuperPrep as the No. 10 prospect in the state of New York ... recorded 68 tackles in 2006 and 78 in his junior year ... was first team all-section his junior year and second team all-section in his sophomore campaign ... also considered Boston College, Connecticut, and Penn State ... coached by Jim Smith.

Personal: Parents are Paul and Joney Vellano ... father was a standout defensive lineman at Maryland (1971-73) ... he was a first team Kodak All-American (AFCA) and a second-team choice by UPI in 1973 ... also a two-time All-ACC selection (1972-73) ... brother, Paul, played football at Rhode Island (2006-09) ... member of National Honor Society ... enjoys boating in his spare time ... a family science major.