From the release:
DEFENSE: Cameron Heyward, Ohio State
JR, DE, Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree RidgeHeyward produced a team-high and career-best 11 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a career-high two sacks, to help hold Penn State to a single touchdown in a 24-7 road victory. The junior defensive end pushed the Nittany Lions’ offense back 17 yards with his three tackles for loss, including 13 yards on two sacks. His 11 defensive stops surpassed his previous career best of seven tackles. The Georgia native spearheaded a Buckeyes defense that limited one of the conference’s top offenses to seven points, 76 rushing yards and 201 total offensive yards. PSU entered the game leading the Big Ten in conference games only with 423.4 total offensive yards per contest, while rating second in the conference with 26.8 points and 190.6 rushing yards per outing. Heyward earns his first career weekly accolade and becomes the third Ohio State defender to be honored in the last five weeks along with defensive end Thaddeus Gibson (Oct. 25) and linebacker Ross Homan (Oct. 11).
LAST OSU DEFENSIVE POW: DE Thaddeus Gibson on Oct. 25, 2009
SPECIAL TEAMS: Ray Small, Ohio State
SR, PR, Cleveland, Ohio/GlenvilleSmall helped Ohio State win the battle for field position with seven punt returns for 130 yards, including a pair of returns over 40 yards to set up Buckeyes touchdowns in the victory at Penn State. The senior wide receiver averaged 18.6 yards per punt return and also added a seven-yard reception and a 13-yard reverse. After the Ohio State defense forced a three-and-out on PSU’s first offensive possession, Small returned the ensuing punt 41 yards to the Nittany Lion’s nine-yard line. Two plays later, the visitors took a 7-0 lead. With a 17-7 advantage, Small set up another scoring drive with a 45-yard return to the hosts’ 47-yard line on the final play of the third quarter. The Ohio State offense drove the remaining 47 yards to take a 24-7 lead on the way to the victory. Small ranks second in Big Ten games only with 10.2 yards per punt return. The Ohio native nabs the first weekly honor of his career.
LAST OSU SPECIAL TEAMS POW: DB Malcolm Jenkins on Nov. 17, 2008
Bonus: Heyward also bagged the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week Award. Oh, and Joey Elliott took home Big Ten offensive honors for the hurting he put on the Wolverines. What a fantastic weekend.
