Freeman Voted Cingular Player of the Week

MANHATTAN, Kan. Kansas State’s Josh Freeman picked up his third national award this week and fourth overall as the quarterback has been chosen by the fans as the Cingular All-America Player of the Week after the freshman led the Wildcats to a dramatic 45-42 win Saturday night over defending national champion and No. 4 Texas.

Freeman, the first-ever Wildcat to take the weekly honor, received 42-percent of the votes to claim the award over week 10 winner Darren McFadden of Arkansas (37%). Georgia defensive back Tra Battle (14%) and Connecticut running back Donald Brown (7%) finished third and fourth, respectively. Each player was nominated for this week’s award by a panel of ESPN college football analysts based on their outstanding performances last weekend. The award will be announced tonight at halftime of the Pittsburgh/West Virginia game on ESPN.

The Cingular All America Player of the Week winner’s list in 2006 includes Rutgers running back Ray Rice, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Michigan wide receiver Mario Manningham, Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Brigham Young quarterback John Beck and Arkansas’ Darren McFadden.

Freeman completed 19-of-31 passes for 269 yards and a career-high three touchdowns Saturday and also ran for another score. The 6-foot-6 quarterback completed six passes for over 20 yards in the game and eight over 15 yards and also completed passes to nine different receivers.

The Kansas City, Mo., native set a new Kansas State freshman passing mark for a season Saturday and now has 1,407 yards on the year. In his last three games, all conference wins, Freeman is 55-of-77 for 681 yards and six touchdowns.

Freeman has picked up Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week and the Master Coaches Survey National Offensive Player of the Week honors this week after his performance against Texas.

k-statesports.com

Kansas State University Athletics

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