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University of Minnesota Athletics
Russell Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
11/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Russell stepped up with career highs in rushing attempts (28), yards (188) and touchdowns (3) to lead Minnesota to a road victory at Indiana for the first time since 1985 and bowl-eligibility for the fourth straight season. With the Gophers trailing 14-7 at halftime, Russell ran for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter alone as the Gophers built a 34-14 advantage entering the final quarter. Russell’s first score of the game boosted Minnesota to a 21-14 lead that it would not relinquish before he added a second touchdown run near the end of the quarter. In the fourth quarter, he followed up his final scoring run by completing a two-point conversion pass to tight end Matt Spaeth for the final points in a 42-21 triumph.
Russell, who ranks second on the team and fifth in the conference with 98 rushing yards per outing, recorded his fourth 100-yard rushing effort this year and in his career. He leads Minnesota and ranks third in the Big Ten with 15 rushing touchdowns, two shy of the Gophers’ single-season record of 17 rushing scores established by Marion Barber III in 2003. Russell’s 16 touchdowns overall rate third in the league and sixth in the NCAA, as he has tallied at least two touchdowns in a game seven times this season, which marks a new school record. He picks up the first Big Ten Player of the Week award of his career.
Penn State senior defensive end Tamba Hali was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, while junior placekicker Joel Howells of Northwestern was awarded Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
