Mitch Leidner named Big Ten Freshman of the Week & CBS Rookie of the Week

[BleedGopher]

Redshirt freshman quarterback Mitch Leidner was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after his performance against San Jose State.

Leidner, who made his first career start against the Spartans, rushed 24 times for 151 yards and scored four touchdowns, as the Gophers won 43-24. His 151 yards were the seventh-most all-time for a Minnesota quarterback and his four scores tied a Gopher quarterback record (Curtis Wilson also ran for four touchdowns against Indiana on Nov. 18, 1967).

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092313aaa.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[GoldenRodents]

at a baby Mitch!

 

[stocker08]

Makes sense. He played a great game.

 

[tikited]

Congrats Mitch!

 

[BleedGopher]

CBSSports.com Players of the Week

Rookie of the Week: Minnesota QB Mitch Leidner

David Fales threw for 439 yards and three touchdowns, but the San Jose State signal caller could not outshine the impressive performance of redshirt freshman backup quarterback Mitch Leidner in Minnesota's 43-24 win. With Phillip Nelson nursing an injured hamstring, Jerry Kill -- back on the sidelines -- called on the 6-4, 240 pound Leidner to be more than a change-of-pace quarterback.

Leidner and running back David Cobb, who carried 25 times for 125 yards and two touchdowns in his own right, tormented the San Jose State defense on the ground, answering San Jose State's challenge and pulling away down the stretch. Leidner finished with 151 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries, tying a school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...3481/cbssportscom-players-of-the-week-sept-23

Go Gophers!!

 

[BleedGopher]

Leidner named ESPN Player of the Week: Big Ten

Leidner made a statement on the game's second drive when he took the wheel and led the offense on a 10-play, 83-yard drive to give Minnesota the 7-0 lead. Leidner rushed four times for 58 yards just on that drive, and punched it in for another score two drives later.

The 6-foot-4 quarterback dragged defenders like a fullback at times and carried the ball 24 times in all, the most carries by a Minnesota quarterback since MarQueis Gray had 27 in 2011. Statistically, it was the Gophers' best individual rushing performance all season.

Nelson remains the starting quarterback, at least for now, but Leidner certainly has the fans talking. Kill now has two quarterbacks able to run his offense, and the Gophers showed they'll be just fine if Nelson needs some time to heal up in the future. Regardless of what's in store for Leidner down the road, it was a memorable weekend for the Lakeville, Minn., native.

Leidner earned Big Ten freshman of the week honors for his performance. Kill couldn't have asked for much more from Leidner. And that's why he's the Five-Star Player of the Week.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/84711/player-of-the-week-big-ten-16

Go Gophers!!