Texas Tech University Athletics
Stephens Named a Big 12 Conference Player of the Week
September 13, 2010 | Football
Sept. 13, 2010
LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech sophomore Eric Stephens (Mansfield, Texas) has been named a Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, announced today by the league office. Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones (offensive) and Kansas linebacker Justin Springer (defensive) were also recognized.
Stephens was tabbed the top special teams performer in the conference after tallying 175 kick-return yards in a 52-17 victory at New Mexico Saturday evening. Big 12 Conference Player of the Week awards are selected by a media panel.
It marked the second most kick-off return yards in Stephens' career, just seven yards shy of the school record he set last season on the road against Texas. Stephens totaled 264 all-purpose yards during week two, which included a career-high 43 yards receiving and matching his career-best 46 rushing yards on 10 rushes - also the most in his career.
The top moment for Stephens against the Lobos was his 93-yard kick return to the New Mexico seven-yard line to set up a Red Raider touchdown in the first quarter.
In just 15 career games, Stephens ranks third in Texas Tech history with 1,120 kick-off return yards. His 41 career kick returns rank sixth in school history.
NOTES:
Stephens is the first Red Raider to earn Big 12 Conference Player of the Week for special teams since teammate Matt Williams (place kicker) received the honor on Oct. 27, 2008. Five times a Texas Tech player was selected as a player of the week in 2009, including Brandon Sharpe (defensive, twice), Baron Batch (offensive), Steven Sheffield (offensive) and Taylor Potts (offensive). Stephens is the first Texas Tech non-kicker to be named a special teams player of the week since 2004 (Danny Amendola, punt returner).
