@MizzouFootball’s Okwuegbunam Named SEC Freshman of the Week
11/20/2017 11:00:00 AM | Football
Freshman TE hauled in two TD passes at Vanderbilt, tying him for the national lead among TEs
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football TE Albert Okwuegbunam (Springfield, Ill.) is the SEC Freshman of the Week, announced Monday (Nov. 20) by the league office. This marks his second SEC weekly honor after earning the distinction on Oct. 23 following Mizzou's Homecoming win over Idaho.
Albert O is coming off a five-catch, 116-yard performance in Mizzou's bowl-clinching 45-17 victory at Vanderbilt Saturday. Two of his five catches went for scores, including a career-long 57-yarder that put the game on ice in the fourth quarter. Of his five receptions, four came on third down and all went for first downs with three of those coming on third-and-long situations, including a third-and-eight (57 yard TD), a third-and-11 (20-yard catch) and a third-and-seven (seven-yard TD).
TOUCHDOWN, ALBERT O!
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) November 19, 2017
His 9??th receiving TD of the season ties @jmac___19 for the #Mizzou freshman record - it's 45-17!#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/3wSF1l5MGP
Okwuegbunam is a prime candidate for Freshman All-America honors this season as he is tied for the national lead in TD catches among TEs. He is also second in the SEC among all receivers with nine TDs and he has five more than the next-best TE on the list (CJ Conrad of Kentucky). His nine TD grabs are also tied for the top mark nationally among all freshmen. His nine TDs also tie him for the Mizzou freshman record with Jeremy Maclin, who also hauled in nine in 2007.
Okwuegbunam and the Tigers will close the regular season this Friday at Arkansas in the annual Battle Line Rivalry Presented by Shelter Insurance. Kick is set for 1:30 p.m. (CT) on CBS. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouFootball) and like the team on Facebook and Instagram (Mizzou Football).
