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Top Performers in the Big East: Week 9

The week nine slate in the Big East consisted of six teams playing three conference games, so the pickins were a bit slim as far as stats are concerned.

OFFENSE

10. Tiquan Underwood, WR, Rutgers

The man most likely to join Harry Douglas at wide receiver on the Big East's First-Team All-Conference squad hauled in 7 passes for 59 yards on Saturday.

9. Tyler Lorenzen, QB, Connecticut

Lorenzen led the Huskies to their first victory over a ranked Bowl Subdivision Team by completing 13-of-25 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. He also gained 36 yards on the ground, but the 41 yards he lost on sacks put him back in the red.

8. Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville

Douglas showed he was back - or nearly back - to full strength by making six catches for 63 yards and finding the endzone once in Louisville's 24-17 win over Pitt.

7. Matt Grothe, QB, South Florida

Despite throwing two interceptions, Grothe amassed 325 yards of total offense, including 146 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

6. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville

Though it wasn't his best day from a statistical standpoint, Brohm did manage to lead his team to victory at home for the first time in three tries by going 21-of-30 for 236 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

5. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers

Rice did his part, carrying 30 times for 143 yards as the Scarlet Knights were embarrassed by West Virginia.

4. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia

Slaton carried 16 times for just 82 yards, but managed to find the endzone three times as West Virginia rolled over Rutgers 31-3.

3. LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh

Once again McCoy was the Panther offense, rushing 26 times for 125 yards and a touchdown, and also making three receptions for 60 yards and another score.

2. Pat White, QB, West Virginia

White was an efficient 10-of-16 through the air for 144 yards, but did more damage on the ground, rumbling for 156 yards and a TD.

Offensive Player of the Week: Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut

The surprise player of the year, Dixon has emerged as the offensive standout on the league's new number one team. This weekend against South Florida he carried 32 times for 167 yards, and also caught three of Lorenzen's passes for 42 yards.

DEFENSE

10. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

A week after he had a huge blocked field goal in Rutgers' upset of South Florida, McCourty led the Scarlet Knights with 12 tackles, and half of a sack.

9. Ryan Mundy, S, West Virginia

The free safety transfer from Michigan made seven tackles, broke up a pass, and returned an interception 32 yards as WVU stomped Rutgers.

8. Lamar Myles, LB, Louisville

Myles again led Louisville with eight tackles, including three stops behind the line of scrimmage.

7. George Selvie, DE, South Florida

After an injury-induced week of underperforming, the nation's sack leader got back on track by getting to the quarterback twice.

6. Peanut Whitehead, DE, Louisville

Big things were expected from the sophomore specimen before the season, and Whitehead finally began to deliver on Saturday by making five tackles and recording two sacks. He gets the nod over Selvie because his two sacks netted a total loss of 22 yards, while Selvie's only set Uconn back 16.

5. Dahna Deleston, S, Connecticut

Made 13 tackles and prevented what would have been a late game-tying touchdown by breaking up a pass in the endzone.

4. Reed Williams, LB, West Virginia

Williams continued to show why he's one of the main reasons the Mountaineer defense is so improved by leading the team in tackles with 13.

3. Danny Lansanah, LB, Connecticut

The best defensive player on the team currently sitting atop the Big East standings made a game-high 16 tackles and one TFL in Uconn's 22-15 win over South Florida.

2. Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia

Ivy led the week's most impressive defensive performance by making ten tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one fumble recovery.

Defensive Player of the Week: Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut

Lutrus becomes the first player to earn POY honors in back-to-back weeks by notching eight tackles and .5 TFL, but mostly for returning an interception 23 yards for a touchdown.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Pat McAfee, K/P, West Virginia

McAfee handled all the kicking duties in WVU's 31-3 win over Rutgers. He knocked one kickoff into the endzone for a touchback, punted five times for an average 40 yards with a long of 50, and drilled a 42-yard field goal.

Freshman of the Week: Scott Lutrus, LB, Connectcitu

Another honor he nabs for the second time in as many weeks.

Team of the Week: West Virginia

The preseason Big East favorite is back in control of the conference (sorry Huskies), and all of the sudden finds itself with an outside shot at the national title.


And now an updated look at your top overall performers through nine weeks.  The tiebreaker, as always, is total number of appearances on the list.

With a bye week looming, this could very easily be the end of Brian Brohm's lengthy stay atop the offensive standings.

OFFENSE

  1. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville (48 points)
  2. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers (43 points)
  3. Matt Grothe, QB, South Florida (35 points)
  4. Pat White, QB, West Virginia (34 points)
  5. Steve Slaton, RB, West Virginia (33 points)
  6. LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh (32 points)
  7. Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut (31 points)
  8. Tiquan Underwood, WR, Rutgers (28 points)
  9. Harry Douglas, WR, Louisville (25 points)
  10. Dominick Goodman, WR, Cincinnati (16 points)
DEFENSE
  1. George Selvie, DE, South Florida (41 points)
  2. Danny Lansanah, LB, Connecticut (35 points)
  3. Scott McKillop, LB, Pittsburgh (32 points)
  4. Lamar Myles, LB, Louisville (32 points)
  5. Ben Moffitt, LB, South Florida (23 points)
  6. Scott Lutrus, LB, Connecticut (22 points)
  7. Mortty Ivy, LB, West Virginia (19 points)
  8. Haruki Nakamura, S, Cincinnati (19 points)
  9. Nate Allen, S, South Florida (19 points)
  10. Lawrence Wilson, LB, Connecticut (18 points)