Football Coaching Staff Selects Players Of The Game – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Freshman tailback Maurice Clarett has been named as Ohio State’s offensive player of the game following Saturday’s 45-21 win over visiting Texas Tech in the Pigskin Classic. The 6-0, 230-pound Clarett rushed for 175 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut. He also caught four passes for 30 yards.
“Maurice has worked very hard,” said head coach Jim Tressel. “By coming in early (he enrolled in January at the start of winter quarter), he has had time to learn our system. And he has gone up against our defense, both in the spring and in the fall, and that has made him a better player. He also watches a lot of film.”
Clarett, who also was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, had touchdown runs of 59, 45 and 3 yards. He is the first Ohio State freshman since World War II to start the season opener at tailback and one of only a handful to top the century mark as a rookie.
Other award winners following Saturday’s game include offensive tackle Shane Olivea, who was chosen as the offensive lineman of the week. Olivea’s work up front was instrumental in the Buckeyes piling up 477 yards in total offense, including 317 on the ground. The O-line allowed just three sacks and two of those were coverage sacks.
“If you would have told me before the game that we were going to rush for 300 yards against a veteran team in our season opener, I would have taken it right there,” said Tressel.
On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker Cie Grant was named defensive player of the game. Grant, who started at cornerback last year but was starting his first game at linebacker, also was credited with having the Jack Tatum Big Hit of the game. Grant was in on five tackles, including a pair of sacks.
Defensive end Will Smith was chosen as the Attack Force player of the game. Smith had four tackles for loss, two of which were sacks, and generally made life miserable all day long for Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury came in touted as a Heisman Trophy hopeful. Smith left the field as an Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award candidate.
Special Team player of the game honors went to sophomore kicker Mike Nugent. Nugent was a perfect six-for-six in the PAT department, kicked a career long 45-yard field goal in his only attempt, booted five kickoffs deep into the end zone, had two perfectly placed “pooch” kicks and made a tackle on a kickoff.
“Mike had a busy and very productive day,” said Tressel.
Other award winners were freshman quarterback Troy Smith, who was chosen as the offensive scout team player of the game; cornerback Bobby Britton, named defensive scout team player of the game; and Rob Harley, selected as the special teams scout player of the game.
“I was pleased, but not surprised, by our effort,” Tressel said of Saturday’s victory. “We trained hard in pre-season camp. We came out after it from the opening kickoff. It is a good start, but we will work hard to get a lot better.”
