COLLEGE PARK, Md. – University of Maryland junior running back and kick returner Javon Leake has been named Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.
Leake returned two kickoffs for 113 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown against No. 14 Michigan on Saturday. It marked Leake’s third kickoff return touchdown of his career, tying him with Torrey Smith for the most in program history.
With his performance against the Wolverines, Leake passed former teammate Ty Johnson on Maryland’s all-time kick return yardage list. The junior now sits in seventh all-time at Maryland with 1,228 kickoff return yards.
Leake’s two kickoff return touchdowns this season is tied for the most in the FBS. He leads the Big Ten in kickoff return touchdowns, kickoff return yards (595) and kickoff return average (29.8).
This marks Leake’s second Big Ten weekly award of the season and fourth of his career. He was named the conferences special teams player of the week after returning a kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown earlier this season against Rutgers. Last season, Leake returned a kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown while also scoring three rushing touchdowns in the same game against Illinois en route to becoming the first player in Big Ten history to garner offensive player of the week and special teams player of the week in the same week.
Maryland is back in action on Saturday when it travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 3 Ohio State at noon. The game will be broadcast on FOX and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
Leake returned two kickoffs for 113 yards, including a 97-yard touchdown against No. 14 Michigan on Saturday. It marked Leake’s third kickoff return touchdown of his career, tying him with Torrey Smith for the most in program history.
With his performance against the Wolverines, Leake passed former teammate Ty Johnson on Maryland’s all-time kick return yardage list. The junior now sits in seventh all-time at Maryland with 1,228 kickoff return yards.
Leake’s two kickoff return touchdowns this season is tied for the most in the FBS. He leads the Big Ten in kickoff return touchdowns, kickoff return yards (595) and kickoff return average (29.8).
This marks Leake’s second Big Ten weekly award of the season and fourth of his career. He was named the conferences special teams player of the week after returning a kickoff 100-yards for a touchdown earlier this season against Rutgers. Last season, Leake returned a kickoff 97-yards for a touchdown while also scoring three rushing touchdowns in the same game against Illinois en route to becoming the first player in Big Ten history to garner offensive player of the week and special teams player of the week in the same week.
Maryland is back in action on Saturday when it travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 3 Ohio State at noon. The game will be broadcast on FOX and the Maryland Sports Radio Network.
