BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill’s impressive starting debut earned the sophomore Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference on Monday. Hill shared the honor with Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
Hill, from Southlake Carroll High School, became the sixth player in SEC history to surpass the 500-yard mark in passing with 511 yards on 44-of-60 attempts while helping the Aggies to a road upset of then No. 9 South Carolina. Hill joined the SEC’s 500-yard club that includes Georgia’s Eric Zeier, Kentucky’s Jared Lorenzen, LSU’s Rohan Davey, Tennessee’s Peyton Manning and Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson.
Hill’s 511 passing yard broke the old school record of 464 yards by Johnny Manziel against Alabama in 2013. His 44 completions broke the old A&M record of 40 set by Jerrod Johnson against Oklahoma State in 2010. Hill became the first Aggie QB to attempt more than 50 passes in a game in a victory. Other records broken by Hill were passing yards in a starting debut and passing yards in a season-opener.
Complete SEC weekly honors:
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Kenny Hill, QB, Texas A&M
· Hill established a new single-game passing mark by completing 44-of-60 passes for a record 511 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. (old record was held by Johnny Manziel with 464 passing yards against Alabama in 2013.)
· Hill became only the sixth SEC quarterback to pass for more than 500 yards in a game.
· He also rushed seven times for a net five yards.
· His played helped snap the nation’s longest home winning streak as the Gamecocks had won 18-straight at home.
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
· Finished with a school record 293 all-purpose yards (former record 290, Rodney Hampton, 1987) and scored four touchdowns to help down the Tigers 45-21.
· He finished with his 14th career 100-yard rushing game after going for a career-high 198 yards and three scores on just 15 carries (13.2 average).
· He had scoring runs of 23 and 18 yards and a 51-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter on his final carry.
· Gurley also tied an NCAA record by returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. This marked his second career 100-yard return for a score after he returned one against Buffalo during his first game as a Bulldog versus Buffalo.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Amarlo Herrera, LB, Georgia
· Tied his career high and posted his ninth career game with 10+ tackles after recording 12 stops, including two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
· Anchored a defense that held #16 Clemson scoreless in the second half and to just 15 yards of total offense in the final two quarters.
· Led a defense that featured a new defensive coaching staff and three new starters in their first game together.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adam Griffith, PK, Alabama
· Perfect 4-4 on field goals from 47, 41, 27 and 45 yards.
· Averaged 64.7 on kickoffs with 3 touchbacks on 7 attempts.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Daniel Carlson, P, Auburn
· In his first career game, averaged 53.3 yards on three punts with two inside the 20.
· Punt of 62 yards was the longest by an Auburn player since 2006.
· Seven-of-eight kickoffs were for touchbacks.
· Six-for-six on PATs and connected on 1-of-2 field goals.
· Handles all punts, kickoffs and placekicking duties for the Tigers.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Jon Toth, C, Kentucky
· Graded at 91 percent in UK’s 59-14 win over UT Martin.
· Had no penalties or missed assignments and did not allow a quarterback sack.
· Credited with three knockdown blocks.
· Part of the UK attack that generated 656 yards total offense, the fourth-highest game in school history.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Preston Smith, DE, Mississippi State
· Smith picked off his first career pass early in the first quarter that halted a Southern Miss drive and then blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter to preserve MSU’s first shutout since 1999.- The blocked FG was picked up by Jay Hughes and returned 70 yards for a touchdown.
· Smith also added two tackles, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup. It was Smith’s second career blocked field goal.
· Smith was part of an MSU unit that limited USM to just 2.2 yards per carry and 71 yards on the ground.