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University of Minnesota Athletics
Smith Honored By B1G
10/24/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Minnesota sophomore running back Rodney Smith was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the week after his 257 all-purpose yards (111 rush, 27 receiving and 119 kick return) against Rutgers in a 34-32 victory. Smith leads the Big Ten with an average of 143.0 all-purpose yards per game.
Smith recorded 22 carries for 111 yards and a touchdown on the ground, had a career long 27-yard reception and took two kick returns for 119 yards, including a 94-yard touchdown. The kick return was the longest of his career and was Minnesota's first kick return for a touchdown since Jalen Myrick went 100 yards against Northwestern. It also came at a crucial time halting Rutgers momentum as the Scarlet Knights had returned an interception for a touchdown on the previous play.
It was the fourth time that Smith has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game this year. He is the first Gopher since David Cobb to have back-to-back 100 yard games after rushing for 144 yards against Maryland last week. He has rushed for 701 yards this season, which ranks him third in the Big Ten for rushing yards per game. He also now rushed for eight touchdowns this season which is tied for first in the Big Ten.
His 257 all-purpose yards is the 12th most in school history and most by a Gopher since Troy Stoudermire had 290 against Iowa on Nov. 22, 2008. It was the most for a Gopher running back since Laurence Maroney had 258 against Wisconsin on Oct. 15, 2005. Prior to Smith, the last Gopher to notch 200 all-purpose yards in a game was David Cobb (233 at Michigan on Sept. 27, 2014).
Smith is the second Gopher to be honored by the Big Ten this season. Emmit Carpenter was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance against Penn State. He is the first Gopher to win Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week since David Cobb did so on Sept. 8, 2014. Cobb rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns against Middle Tennessee.
