Watkins Sweeps Awards from Rivals.com

Oct. 16, 2011

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been named National Player of the Week, National Freshman of the Week and ACC Player of the Week by Rivals.com for his performance against Maryland on Saturday. It is the third time he has been named the National Freshman of the Week within the first seven weeks of the season by Rivals.com.

Watkins had 345 all-purpose yards in Clemson’s 56-45 victory over Maryland in College Park, a victory that gave the Tigers a 7-0 record overall, 4-0 in the ACC. Watkins had eight receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns, a 33-yard rush and five kickoff returns for 207 yards, including an 89-yard return for a touchdown.

Watkins broke C.J. Spiller’s Clemson single game all-purpose running record. Spiller had 312 all-purpose yards against Florida State in 2009. Watkins now has 46 receptions for 729 yards and eight touchdowns, marks that are already Clemson freshman records.

The native of Fort Myers, FL is 10th in the nation in all-purpose running yards per game (172.1), and 18th in reception yards per game (104.0). He is third in the nation in touchdown receptions with eight. He leads all freshmen in reception yards per game, all-purpose running yards per game and touchdown receptions.