It is a first-time honor for both Bulldogs.
Fitzgerald, Rankin Named SEC Players of the Week
November 07, 2016 | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Following Mississippi State's first win against a top-five team since 2014, a pair of Bulldogs were named Players of the Week by the Southeastern Conference on Monday.
Sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week, and junior offensive lineman Martinas Rankin was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the week as the two helped propel the Bulldogs to a 35-28 victory over the fourth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. It is also a first-time honor for both Bulldogs.
Fitzgerald earned Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after posting his third-straight game with 100 yards rushing and fourth-straight with two touchdowns on the ground. The Richmond Hill, Ga., native finished 18-of-31 with 209 yards and two scores through the air while adding 182 yards and a two more touchdowns on the ground. With this effort, he became one of three SEC quarterbacks in the last 20 years to pass for 200 yards and rush for 175 in a single game, joining Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel. His five 100-yard rushing games this season rank second nationally among QBs as well as second among all SEC players. Fitzgerald is the first Bulldog to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors since Dak Prescott on November 23, 2015, following his seven-touchdown performance against Arkansas.
Rankin had one of the most dominant games by an MSU offensive lineman this season, as he graded out a champion against one of the nation's elite defensive lines. His play against Texas A&M helped him earn SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week—the first time a Bulldog has taken the honor since Ben Beckwith did so in 2014. The junior from Mendenhall, Miss., recorded three knockdowns and, more importantly, helped MSU to not give up a single sack against the Aggies. Behind Rankin, the Bulldogs pounded out a season-high 365 yards on the ground—the most since October 9, 2010, when MSU recorded 409 rushing yards against Houston. ?
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Sophomore quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week, and junior offensive lineman Martinas Rankin was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the week as the two helped propel the Bulldogs to a 35-28 victory over the fourth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. It is also a first-time honor for both Bulldogs.
Fitzgerald earned Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after posting his third-straight game with 100 yards rushing and fourth-straight with two touchdowns on the ground. The Richmond Hill, Ga., native finished 18-of-31 with 209 yards and two scores through the air while adding 182 yards and a two more touchdowns on the ground. With this effort, he became one of three SEC quarterbacks in the last 20 years to pass for 200 yards and rush for 175 in a single game, joining Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel. His five 100-yard rushing games this season rank second nationally among QBs as well as second among all SEC players. Fitzgerald is the first Bulldog to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors since Dak Prescott on November 23, 2015, following his seven-touchdown performance against Arkansas.
Rankin had one of the most dominant games by an MSU offensive lineman this season, as he graded out a champion against one of the nation's elite defensive lines. His play against Texas A&M helped him earn SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week—the first time a Bulldog has taken the honor since Ben Beckwith did so in 2014. The junior from Mendenhall, Miss., recorded three knockdowns and, more importantly, helped MSU to not give up a single sack against the Aggies. Behind Rankin, the Bulldogs pounded out a season-high 365 yards on the ground—the most since October 9, 2010, when MSU recorded 409 rushing yards against Houston. ?
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
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