Sept. 25, 2007
Columbia, Mo. - University of Missouri freshman wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (Kirkwood, Mo.) was named Monday as the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, as announced by the league office. Maclin was honored after his big day in helping stake Mizzou to a 4-0 start with a 38-17 win over Illinois State last Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
Maclin returned a punt 64-yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter that accounted for Mizzou's final points, and he also scored on an 8-yard pass in the 2nd quarter. Maclin returned 3 kickoffs for 82 yards (27.3 avg.), while taking 4 punts the other way for 81 yards (20.3 avg.). He had a game-best 238 all-purpose yards on the day, including a team-best 5 receptions for 53 yards, while rushing once for 22 yards.
Maclin currently leads the nation in all-purpose yardage, with his per-game average of 230.25 yards per game through games of Sept. 22nd. His punt return for a touchdown last week gave him two for the season, and that has already tied an MU season and career record. The last Tiger to return two punts for a score was former great Leo Lewis, who did so in 1975.
Maclin and his 20th-ranked Tiger teammates are off this Saturday, but they continue preparations for their next game, on Oct. 6th against 25th-ranked Nebraska, at Faurot Field. Tickets for the game are nearly sold out, so fans wishing to see the game, which will kick at 8:15 p.m. and be shown nationally on ESPN, are encouraged to order tickets soon. Tickets can be purchase online at www.mutigers.com, over the phone by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Columbia), or in person at the Mizzou Arena ticket office.
Maclin is the second Tiger to win Big 12 weekly honors in 2007. He joins senior SS Pig Brown, who won the defensive league award for his performance in Mizzou's season-opening win over Illinois.
This is just the fourth time a Tiger has won Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Here's a look at those instances...
MIZZOU BIG 12 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Date Tiger Position Opponent
9-24-07 Jeremy Maclin PR/KR Illinois State
11-17-05 Adam Crossett PK/P Iowa State
12-1-03 Marcus James PR Iowa State
11-4-02 Marcus James PR Iowa State