Minnesota quarterback Demry Croft and running back Rodney Smith were honored by the Big Ten today. Croft was named
the conference’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week and Smith was tabbed Special
Teams Player of the Week.
Croft, who shares the honor with Ohio State’s Mike Weber, led Minnesota to a 54-21 victory against Nebraska last Saturday. In the win, Croft rushed 10 times for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Croft, who averaged 18.3 yards per carry, set a Minnesota record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a game, breaking Marqueis Gray's record of 171 set against Miami (Ohio) in 2011.
Croft's 183 rushing yards were the most by a Gopher since running back David Cobb rumbled for 194 yards against Purdue in 2014. In addition, Croft's 183 yards are the most by a Big Ten quarterback this year and are the fifth-most rushing yards for any Big Ten player this season.
Croft joins Johnathan Lewis (Rutgers) and Trace McSorley (Penn State) as the only Big Ten quarterbacks to rush for three touchdowns in one game this year. Croft's 183 yards helped Minnesota rack up 409 rushing yards on the day, which is the eighth-most ever for the Gophers in a single game. Croft added 105 passing yards in the dominating win.
Smith returned three kicks for 135 yards against Nebraska, and he started the game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was his second kickoff return for a touchdown and first since going 94 yards against Rutgers in 2016. Smith became the first Gopher to return the opening kick for a score since Tyrone Carter (86 yards) did so against Arkansas State in 1998.
Smith ended the Nebraska game with 279 all-purpose yards (135 kick return, 134 rushing and 10 receiving), which ties Tellis Redmon (279 yards vs NC State in 2000) for the seventh most in a single game in school history. The 279 all-purpose yards is also a career high for Smith (previous best was 257 vs Rutgers in 2016).
Croft and Smith are the second and third Gophers to be recognized this year, as Jacob Huff was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18.
The last Gopher to be recognized as Offensive Player of the Week was Smith, who earned the honor on Oct. 24, 2016. The last Gopher to be named Special Teams Player of the Week was Emmit Carpenter who was feted on Nov. 7, 2016.
Croft, who shares the honor with Ohio State’s Mike Weber, led Minnesota to a 54-21 victory against Nebraska last Saturday. In the win, Croft rushed 10 times for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Croft, who averaged 18.3 yards per carry, set a Minnesota record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a game, breaking Marqueis Gray's record of 171 set against Miami (Ohio) in 2011.
Croft's 183 rushing yards were the most by a Gopher since running back David Cobb rumbled for 194 yards against Purdue in 2014. In addition, Croft's 183 yards are the most by a Big Ten quarterback this year and are the fifth-most rushing yards for any Big Ten player this season.
Croft joins Johnathan Lewis (Rutgers) and Trace McSorley (Penn State) as the only Big Ten quarterbacks to rush for three touchdowns in one game this year. Croft's 183 yards helped Minnesota rack up 409 rushing yards on the day, which is the eighth-most ever for the Gophers in a single game. Croft added 105 passing yards in the dominating win.
Smith returned three kicks for 135 yards against Nebraska, and he started the game with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It was his second kickoff return for a touchdown and first since going 94 yards against Rutgers in 2016. Smith became the first Gopher to return the opening kick for a score since Tyrone Carter (86 yards) did so against Arkansas State in 1998.
Smith ended the Nebraska game with 279 all-purpose yards (135 kick return, 134 rushing and 10 receiving), which ties Tellis Redmon (279 yards vs NC State in 2000) for the seventh most in a single game in school history. The 279 all-purpose yards is also a career high for Smith (previous best was 257 vs Rutgers in 2016).
Croft and Smith are the second and third Gophers to be recognized this year, as Jacob Huff was named Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18.
The last Gopher to be recognized as Offensive Player of the Week was Smith, who earned the honor on Oct. 24, 2016. The last Gopher to be named Special Teams Player of the Week was Emmit Carpenter who was feted on Nov. 7, 2016.
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