Clarett And Nugent Recognized – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 16, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Buckeyes have claimed two of the Big Ten’s three weekly awards following their win over Washington State.
Tailback Maurice Clarett was named Offensive Player of the Week after shredding the Washington State defense for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. It was the sixth-best single-game rushing effort in Ohio State history and the second best by an Ohio State freshman, surpassed only by Archie Griffin’s 239 yards against North Carolina in 1972.
The 6-0, 230-pound Clarett, who currently leads the Big Ten in rushing and scoring, also won the award following Ohio State’s win over Texas Tech on Aug. 24. He is the first Ohio State freshman since David Boston in 1996 to win such recognition twice in one season.
Sophomore Mike Nugent was named Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing field goals of 43, 43 and 45 yards against WSU. The latter equaled his career long, which he first hit against Texas Tech and later matched against Kent State. Nugent is just the second OSU kicker to hit three field goals of 40 or more yards in a game. Tom Klaban was good from 47, 25, 43 and 45 yards out in the Buckeyes’ 12-10 win over Michigan in 1974.
Nugent is a perfect seven-for-seven in the field goal department this year and has hit eight in a row dating back to last year. Six of this year’s treys have been from 40 or more yards, breaking the school single-season record of five set by Rich Spangler in 1984 and tied by Dan Stultz in 1999.
Stultz and Spangler rank one-two in career kicks of more than 40 yards with 15 and 12, respectively. Tim Williams (1990-93) had 10 and Klaban (8). Nugent is next in line with seven.
The Buckeyes have now had a player of the week following each of their three games. Senior safety Michael Doss was the Defensive Player of the Week following the Kent State game.
