Sept. 28, 2015
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State's Rashaad Penny (Norwalk, Calif.) has been named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced today. It is the first weekly honor for the sophomore.
Penny returned two kicks for a career-high 137 yards (68.5 avg.) at Penn State, including a 100-yard touchdown (fourth 100-yard kick return touchdown in Aztec history) that tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. The kick return for a touchdown was his second of the year (also the opener vs. San Diego), matching Colin Lockett (2012) for the most in a single-season in SDSU history. It was also just the fifth kick return for a San Diego State player in a road game since 1996 and first since Nov. 3, 2012 when Lockett returned a 100-yarder at Boise State.
Penny also added a 55-yard rush, the longest of his career and first 50-plus yard run against the Nittany Lions since Nov. 23, 2013, and two solo tackles on special teams. He finished the game with a career-best 192 all-purpose yards on just three touches (64.0 avg.).
On the season, Penny leads the team with 498 all-purpose yards, including 361 in kick return yards on just eight attempts. He leads the country (FBS) in kick return average (45.1) and is tied for first with two kick return touchdowns, while averaging a team-high 13.6 yards per rush attempt (seven rushes, 95 yards) and 14.0 yards per catch (three catches, 42 yards).
The Aztecs kick off Mountain West play Saturday against Fresno State at Qualcomm Stadium, beginning at 7:30 p.m. PT.