Beshears Tabbed As Big 12 Special Teams Player Of The Week

Sept. 27, 2010

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas sophomore wide receiver/running back/return specialist D.J. Beshears was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week it was announced Monday morning.

The sophomore made his first career start at running back (had started three games on defense at cornerback last year) and responded with 161 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns against New Mexico State Saturday.

His night included eight rushes for 38 yards and two touchdowns, two receptions for six yards and two kickoff returns for 117 yards, including a 96-yard return for a touchdown.

With his big night of kickoff returns, the Denton, Texas product, Beshears is now ranked third in the NCAA in kickoff return average at 37.12.

In four games this season Beshears has rushed 15 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns, caught four passes for 17 yards and returned eight kickoffs for 297 yards and one touchdown.

Beshears is the second Jayhawk to be recognized as a player of the week by the league office as linebacker Justin Springer earned the defensive honor on Sept. 13 for his efforts against Georgia Tech.

Beshears is the first KU player to earn the league’s special teams player of the week since place kicker Scott Webb vs. Colorado in 2007.

Other league honors were given to Oklahoma’s Landry Jones on offense and Iowa State’s Jake Nott on defense. All three honorees are sophomores.

Kansas, 2-2 on the year will open Big 12 Conference play at Baylor, 3-1, Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. and the game will be televised on FSN.