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Receiver Earl Bennett Named National Freshman of the Week 11/15/2005 A highly regarded college football website named Vanderbilt receiver Earl Bennett National Freshman of the Week Tuesday following his record-setting performance last weekend against Kentucky. Bennett, a product of West End High School in Birmingham, Ala., was selected as last week’s outstanding freshman performer by Rivals.com, one of the nation’s top websites dedicated to college football. Bennett, the Southeastern Conference’s leading freshman with 65 receptions, was sensational in Vanderbilt’s comeback against Kentucky. He caught 13 passes — second highest in the league this season — for 99 yards and touchdowns of 13, 2, 5, 13 and 7 yards. He became just the second receiver in SEC history, joining former LSU standout Carlos Carson, to accomplish the five-touchdown feat. “Earl’s receiving accomplishments last Saturday were remarkable, but his overall performance was unbelieveable,” Commodore Head Coach Bobby Johnson said. “You’re talking about a guy that not only had 13 catches and five touchdowns, but a young man that ran routes in more than 90 offensive plays, ran back a kick 57 yards, went 18 yards on a punt return, and helped out on coverage teams. I don’t the words to describe Earl’s performance.” Bennett set a Vanderbilt single game receiving record with five touchdowns. He joins former tailback Frank Mordica as the only Commodores to ever score five touchdowns in a game. Mordica scored five touchdowns while rushing for an SEC record 321 yards against Air Force in 1978. Bennett also becomes the 12th player in SEC history — 10 running backs and two receivers — to score at least five touchdowns in a game. Bennett’s performance during the last three games — against SEC Eastern Division foes South Carolina, Florida and Kentucky — might be unparalleled in the annals of Commodore football. In these games, Bennett has 35 catches, good for 378 yards and eight touchdowns. He is averaging 200.0 yards in all-purpose yardage during the stretch, which includes a 16-reception, 204-yard performance at South Carolina and three-touchdown effort at Florida. In all three games, the Commodores rallied from at least a 14-point deficit to put the final outcome in doubt. Bennett also extended his Vanderbilt freshman record for receptions. His 65-catch total is 20 more than the previous school mark and thought to be the second highest reception total ever by an SEC freshman, behind the 71-catch total recorded by Jabar Gaffney of Florida in 2000. He ranks second nationally among freshmen in receptions behind Davone Bess of Hawaii. Bennett moves into second among all SEC receivers in catches, third in receiving yardage (709) and tied for second in touchdown receptions.
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