Nov. 4, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Junior running back Jason Wright (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar) was named the Big Ten Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week today after a career-best performance in Northwestern's 41-37 victory over Indiana. Wright is sharing the honor with Penn State's Larry Johnson, who set a single-game rushing record for the Nittany Lions in their win over Illinois.
Wright established career highs for rushing yards (196), receiving yards (59), all-purpose yards (285), yards per carry average (8.9) and rushing touchdowns (four) against Indiana. (Note: Upon further review of the official statistics, a 23-yard rush was incorrectly credited to Wright on Saturday; the actual play was a 23-yard pass from Basanez to Ashton Aikens. This change gives Wright 196 rushing yards instead of 219. The statistics in this release reflect the change.)
He tied the Wildcats' single-game rushing TD record of four, which had been accomplished five previous times. Wright caught three passes and was responsible for two kickoff returns for 30 yards.
Wright also became the eighth player in NU history to go over the 1,000-yard mark for single-season rushing. He now has 1,083 yards with two games to play. Wright has totaled six 100-yard games in his last eight outings.
This is his third Big Ten weekly honor of the year after capturing Special Teams laurels on Sept. 9 and Offensive accolades on Sept. 23.