 
Monroe named National Kickoff Returner of the Week
Sept. 30, 2012
Texas Longhorns senior running back/wide receiver D.J. Monroe has been selected as the College Football Performance Awards National Kickoff Returner of the Week for week five, the CFPA announced on Sunday. Two other Longhorns also earned CFPA honors; junior DE Jackson Jeffcoat was selected as Honorable Mention Defensive Lineman of the Week, and sophomore QB David Ash was selected Honorable Mention Quarterback of the Week. In the Longhorns 41-36 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday, Monroe scored on a 100-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. It was just the fourth 100-yard kickoff return for a TD in school history. Foswhitt 'Fozzy' Whittaker did it twice (vs. Oklahoma State, 2011; vs. Oklahoma, 2011) and Johnny 'Lam' Jones had the first one (vs. SMU in 1978). Monroe’s kickoff return for a TD was the third of his career, which sets the UT record. He was tied with Whittaker who had both of his last season (vs. Oklahoma State; vs. Oklahoma). In the game against the Cowboys, Monroe returned two kickoffs for 120 yards; his first two returns of the season. Helping Texas to a 4-0 start this season, Monroe has rushed for 80 yards on 11 carries (7.3 ypc) with three touchdowns. The senior from Angleton has now scored a touchdown in every game so far this season. Monroe is a fifth-year running back/wide receiver who has 1,290 kickoff return yards (No. 3 on UT's career list) on 48 attempts (No. 3 on UT's career list) for a 26.8 yards per return average (No. 2 on UT's career list) and scored on his first-ever collegiate play with an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against ULM on September 5, 2009. Jeffcoat was tied for the team lead in tackles against Oklahoma State with seven total and had six solo tackles. He also had one sack, one forced fumble and four tackles for loss. Jeffcoat led a defense that limited the Cowboys, who lead the nation in red zone efficiency, to three field goals on five red zone chances, including the second-to-last drive of the game when they had a first down at the UT 13.
In 2012, Jeffcoat has 25 tackles (15 solo), three sacks, eight TFL, two forced fumbles, five quarterback hurries, one pass break up and one pass defended. This season he has been named to the 2012 Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and CFPA Defensive Lineman of the Year Trophy watch lists. Ash started his 10th career game (7-3 record) against Oklahoma State and completed a career-high 30 passes on 37 attempts (81.1 percent) for 303 yards and three TDs and one interception. He had thrown 116 attempts without a pick, the fourth-longest streak in school history. His last interception was against Kansas State on Nov. 19, 2011. During the Longhorns fourth-quarter game-winning drive, Ash was 4-for-5 for 70 yards. Against the Cowboys, he became just the fourth quarterback in school history with consecutive 300-yard passing games as he had a career-best 326 yards passing versus Ole Miss on September 15. Ash has a passing efficiency rating of 184.03 in 2012, which is second best in the nation. The sophomore from Belton has completed 85 passes on 109 attempts (77.98%) for 1007 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception, and has also rushed for a 49-yard touchdown against New Mexico. |
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