Bill Belton’s career effort did not go unnoticed as the Big Ten announced that he would be the Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of The Week along side Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson.
This is the first time in his career that Belton has been selected for the award and the fourth Nittany Lion to earn conference honors this season. Placekicker Sam Ficken, quarterback Christian Hackenberg and defensive end C.J. Olaniyan have all earned some form of conference recognition this season.
Belton delivered the first 200-yard rushing game by a Nittany Lion since Larry Johnson ran for 279 yards against Michigan State in 2002. Belton’s previous career-high for rushing yards was 108 in the win over Eastern Michigan on Sept. 7. His 36 carries also were a career-best and the most by a Nittany Lion since Zach Zwinak had 36 last season against Wisconsin.
“He has really turned the corner in a lot of areas, on and off the field.” Head coach Bill O’Brien said following the game. “He is doing better in school and he is become a better running back. He is a guy that we moved to running back when we came here. He was a receiver and it is not easy to make that move.”
“It takes a while to learn how to play that position. I think he has done a very good job. He is a tough runner. He had that fumble at the end, we try to tell him not to reach out for the goal line but he did it, so we have got to fix that. But other than that, I think he had a hell of a football game.”
Penn State takes on Minnesota this weekend. The Gophers are 7-2 and have won their last three games, falling only to Michigan and Iowa.
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