BATON ROUGE – LSU running back Leonard Fournette and offensive guard Vadal Alexander both picked up Southeastern Conference Player of the Week honors for their performance in the Tigers’ 30-27 win over Florida on Saturday night, the league office announced on Monday.
Fournette, who was making the first start of his career, was named co-SEC Freshman of the Week along with Georgia running back Nick Chubb, while Alexander earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Against Florida, Fournette had the best game of his seven-game career, rushing for a career-high 140 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. The 140 yards were the most by an LSU true freshman since 2003 when Justin Vincent ran for 201 yards in the SEC Championship Game win over Georgia.
Fournette’s 140 rushing yards came against a Florida defense that was allowing just 103 yards rushing a contest. Fournette averaged 5.2 yards per carry and had five carries of at least 12 yards, including two runs of 20 yards. Fournette scored on runs of 12 and 2 yards.
Fournette also tallied 85 yards on kickoff returns to finish with a career-best 225 all-purpose yards. Fournette currently ranks No. 3 in the SEC in all-purpose yards with 136.9 a contest. He’s seventh in the league in kickoff returns with a 23.0 average and he’s just outside of the top 10 in rushing with 72.0 yards per game. In seven games, Fournette has rushed for 504 yards and six touchdowns.
Alexander, a junior who’s in his third year as a starter on the offensive line for the Tigers, played all 73 snaps and led the Tigers with 11 knockdowns in the win over the Gators.
Alexander helped pave the way for an LSU running attack that racked up 195 yards and three touchdowns against a stingy Florida defense. LSU’s four running backs combined to rush for 209 yards on 39 attempts, an average of 5.4 yards per carry in the LSU victory.
The honors are the first of the year for both Fournette and Alexander.
2014 LSU Football Honors
Game Player Honor
New Mexico State Brandon Harris SEC Freshman of the Week
Florida Leonard Fournette SEC Freshman of the Week
Florida Vadal Alexander SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week
Oct. 13 SEC Football Players of the Week
CO-FRESHMAN
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
In first career start, rushed for a career-best 140 yards and a pair of TDs on 27 carries to help LSU beat Florida on the road, 30-27.
The 27 carries marked a career-high, while the two TDs matched a career-best … Fournette’s 140 rushing yards came against a Florida defense that was allowing just 103 yards rushing per game.
Averaged 5.2 yards per carry … The 140 rushing yards were the most by an LSU true freshman since 2003 when Justin Vincent ran for 201 yards in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia.
Also tallied 85 yards on four kickoff returns to finish with a career-best 225 all-purpose yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Vadal Alexanader, OG, LSU
Started and played all 73 offensive snaps for LSU, leading the Tigers with 11 knockdown blocks in the 30-27 win over Florida.
Helped pave the way for an LSU rushing attack that racked up 195 yards and 3 TDs against a Florida defense that was allowing just 103 rushing yards per game.
True freshman Leonard Fournette rushed for a career-best 140 yards, while LSU’s four running backs averaged 5.4 yards per carry (209 yards on 39 attempts).
OFFENSE
Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
Prescott accounted for three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) and 367 yards of total offense to lead MSU to its third straight win over a top-10 team against an Auburn squad that was statistically one of the best in the SEC.
Prescott recorded his nation-leading fourth game this season of 200 yards passing/100 yards rushing. Prescott is the only QB to achieve that feat against Auburn in the last 40 years and he’s now done it twice.
Prescott was 18-of-34 passing for 246 yards. He rushed for 121 yards and two scores. He also broke the MSU career record for touchdowns responsible with now 53.
DEFENSE
Cody Prewitt, DB, Ole Miss
Returned an interception 75 yards for his first career touchdown in leading No. 3 Ole Miss to 35-20 road win at No. 14 Texas A&M.
Led a Rebel defense that limited the Aggies to their lowest point total of the year and shut them out in a half for the first time this season.
Also notched seven tackles.
His 11th career INT tied him for seventh-most in school history.
Ole Miss’ three pick-sixes are tied for first in the nation.
SPECIAL TEAMS
JK Scott, P, Alabama
True frosh punted a career-high eight times in the Crimson Tide’s 14-13 victory at Arkansas Saturday night.
He averaged 44.2 yards, but more importantly netted 44.2 yards on those eight kicks to improve his season net punting average to 43.1 yards per game which ranks fourth nationally.
Scott pinned seven of his eight punts inside the Razorbacks 20-yard line, including six that were downed at the 15-yard line or better.
He is averaging 46.7 yards per punt this season, ranking him fourth nationally and first in the SEC
Scott has placed 12 of his 19 punts (63.2 percent) inside the 20 while allowing just two punts to be returned all season for a total of eight yards
He has averaged 47.5 yards per punt (14) in the last two games with 10 placed inside the 20-yard line.
CO-FRESHMAN
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Chubb got his first start in Todd Gurley’s absence and racked up a career-high 143 yards rushing and a touchdown on 38 carries (tie for sixth-most carries in school history) during Georgia’s 34-0 shutout at #23 Missouri.
This marked his first 100-yard rushing game with the most carries for a Bulldog since Verron Haynes carried the ball 39 times for 207 yards against Georgia Tech.
He also added four catches for 31 yards (both career highs) to pace the Bulldog offense as Georgia dominated the game clock, holding the ball for 42:23.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Marquis Haynes, DE, Ole Miss
Notched a pair of sacks in helping No. 3 Ole Miss to 35-20 road win at No. 14 Texas A&M.
Helped lead a Rebel defense that limited the Aggies to their lowest point total of the year and shut them out in a half for the first time this season.
Finished with four tackles.
His four sacks this season leads the team and ranks fifth in the SEC.