Herford Named co-Big 12 Special Teams Player Of The Week

Sept. 10, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas return specialist Marcus Herford was named co-Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance against Southeastern Louisiana it was announced by the league office on Monday.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Herford, a junior from DeSoto, Texas, had three kickoff returns for 149 yards and one touchdown in the Jayhawks’ 62-0 victory against the Lions. Herford’s first attempt resulted in a 74-yard return for a score after a free kick. The return was KU’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since Greg Heaggans went 100 yards against SouthwestMissouriState in 2002.

Herford also had returns of 45 and 30 yards on the night. After two weeks, Herford ranks third in the NCAA in kickoff return average at 41.25 per return on four attempts. He trails only Dorren Bryant of Purdue, who has a 63.67 average on three returns and Felix Jones of Arkansas, who has a 48.00 average on three returns.

Kansas leads the nation in team kickoff return average at 41.25 ahead of Arkansas (40.75) and Purdue (38.43).

Herford became the first KU player to earn a conference player of the week award since running back Jon Cornish earned the offensive player of the week against KansasState Nov. 20, 2006. The last KU player to earn a special teams player of the week accolade was current place kicker Scott Webb, who was named on Nov. 28, 2005 for his efforts against IowaState.

Herford shared the award with Brandon Foster of Texas. The league also announced that Baylor’s Blake Szymanski and Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford shared the offensive player of the week honor, while Oklahoma’s Reggie Smith was tabbed the defensive player of the week.

Last season Herford ranked third in the Big 12 and was 18th in the NCAA in kickoff return average at 26.10. Early in his second season or returning kicks, Herford has moved into third on the school’s career kickoff return yardage list with 922 on 33 returns. Heaggans is the school leader at 1,885 yards, with Maurice Douglas second with 1,077 yards.

Kansas, 2-0 on the season, will return to action this Saturday, hosting Toledo at 6 p.m.