Oct. 24, 2011
2011 College Football Performers of the Week (Oct. 24, 2011)
Bronx, N.Y. -
Fordham University junior punter Patrick Murray (Mahwah, N.J./Don Bosco Prep), junior quarterback Ryan Higgins (Merrick, N.Y./Chaminade) and senior running back Darryl Whiting (E. Elmhurst, N.Y./Holy Cross) were named NCAA FCS Punt Performer of the Week, NCAA FCS Honorable Mention Quarterback Performer of the Week and NCAA FCS Honorable Mention Running Back Performer of the Week, respectively, by the College Football Performance Awards it was announced on Monday. It is the fourth award of the year for Murray, the third time he has been named NCAA FSC Punter of the Week, and the first weekly award for Higgins and Whiting.
In Fordham's 45-24 loss at Lafayette College last Saturday, Murray punted twice for 106 yards (53.0 yards/punt) with a long of 55 yards. One of his two punts landed inside the Lafayette 20.
On the year, Murray has punted 31 times for 1,448 yards, an average of 46.7 yards/punt. He leads the Patriot League in punting average and is second in the NCAA FCS. Of his 31 punts, 15 have landed inside the opponent's 20 and 12 have traveled more than 50 yards. His long on the year is a 73-yarder that tied his career best as well as tying for the second longest in Fordham history.
Higgins completed 32 of 52 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns in the game and was also named the Patriot League Player of the Week by College Sports Madness. He surpassed his previous career-high for completions (21 at Penn), attempts (38 at Penn) and passing yards (253 vs. Lehigh), all set earlier this year. The 413 passing yards ties Higgins with Joe Moorhead (995) for the third best game in Fordham history. The only two games with more passing yards by a Fordham signal caller were both by current Arizona Cardinal John Skelton, who passed for 420 yards at Cornell in 2009 and a school-record 427 against Holy Cross that same year.
On the season, Higgins has completed 73 of 134 passes for 973 yards and six touchdowns.
Whiting rushed 20 times for a season-high 128 yards and one score at Lafayette and he also caught two passes for six yards. It was Whiting's second 100-game of the year and the seventh of his career.
On the year, Whiting leads the Rams with 467 rushing yards on 107 carries, an average of 4.4 yards/carry. He is second in the Patriot League in rushing yards/game (66.7)
The Rams (1-6) will continue their 2011 schedule on Saturday, October 29th, as they travel to West Point, N.Y., to face the Army Black Knights in front of a sold out Michie Stadium at 3:30 p.m. in a game that will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network.
