Detmer Award Week 5: MTSU RB Benny Cunningham Wrecks Georgia Tech
By Kyle Kensing
Sep 29, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders running back Benny Cunningham (2) runs the ball past Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets safety Isaiah Johnson (1) during the 4th quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 49-28. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-US PRESSWIRE
MTSU running back Benny Cunningham wrecked Georgia Tech on Saturday. His stutter-stepping, defender trucking trek to the end zone in the third quarter was the play of the day, and it also is the perfect highlight to define his Week 5 Detmer Award vote-leading performance.
Cunningham edged out Miami (OH) quarterback Zac Dysert for top honors. Dysert was a one-man wrecking in the RedHawks’ wild, 56-49 shootout against Akron. Both debut on the Detmer Award top 10 as a result.
ULM quarterback Kolton Browning remains the frontrunner, with Nevada running back Stefphon Jefferson and Tyler Tettleton in hot pursuit.
TY DETMER AWARD TOP 10 through Week 4
Rank
Player
Position
School
Points (1st Place Votes)
1.Kolton Browning
QBUL-Monroe61 (10)
2.Stefphon JeffersonRBNevada51 (5)3.Tyler TettletonQBOhio40 (6)4.Benny CunninghamRBMTSU28 (4)
5.David PilandQBHouston25 (1)
6.Colby CameronQBLouisiana Tech24 (1)7.Zac DysertQBMiami (OH)23 (2)
8.Brett SmithQBWyoming23 (1)
9.Austin FranklinWRNew Mexico State19 (2)
10.Beau BlankenshipRBOhio17
Matt Elder, BuffaloBillsDraft.com
1. QB Zac Dysert-Miami (OH)
2. RB Benny Cunningham-Middle Tennessee State
3. RB Beau Blankenship-Ohio
4. WR Willie Snead-Ball State
5. RB David Fluellen-Toledo
#1 Benny Cunningham, Middle Tennessee- Ran over, around and through the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for 217 yards and 5 TDs in an upset route.
#2 Zac Dysert, Miami (OH)- Zac threw for 516 yds and TDs with no INTs. He also ran for 108 yds in his teams 56-49 victory over Akron.
#3 Derek Carr, Fresno State- Threw for 536 yds on 42/56 passing for 5 TDs as the Bulldogs scored the last 16 points to beat San Diego State 52-40.
#4 Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech- His stats weren’t as impressive as some of the others on this list but his team went to Virginia and knocked off the Cavs to improve to 4-0 on the season.
#5 Beau Blankenship, Ohio- Blankenship was a workhorse back carrying the ball 43 times for 269 yds and 2 TDs in a close win for the Bobcats.
Pat Johnston, One-Handed Grab, Founder of The Positive Impact Factor
1. Benny Cunningham, RB, MTSU, 27 rush, 217 yards, 5 TD in 49-28 win over Georgia Tech
2. Zac Dysert, QB, Miami (OH), 516 yds passing, 14 rush, 108 yards, 6 passing TD in 56-49 win over Akron
3. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno St, 536 yds passing, 5 TD, 2 INT, 5 rush, 43 yards in 52-40 win over SDSU
4. Beau Blankenship, RB, Ohio, 43 rush, 269 yards, 2 TD in 37-34 win over UMass
5. Rashad Evans, WR, Fresno St, 10 rec, 100 yards, 3 TD in 52-40 win over SDSU
Tyler Cantrell, BlazerTV.com
1.) Benny Cunningham – RB, MTSU – 5 TD’s and 217 yards rushing in
upset win over GT
2.) Kolton Browning _QB, ULM – 253 yards passing and 3 TD’s in route
over in-state rival Tulane
3.) Stefphon Jefferson – RB, Nevada – I over looked him last week in a
HUGE blunder. So he makes the list with 178 yards rushing this week
despite not having a TD
4.) Zac Dysert – QB, Miami-OH – Over 500 yards & 6 TD passes
5.) Colby Cameron – QB, La Tech – just keeps winning in upset over
Virginia. 1 passing and 1 rushing TD
Matt Hargleroad, CowboyAltitude.com
1. Benny Cunningham – MTSU
2. Derek Carr – Fresno State
3. Zac Dysert – Miami (OH)
4. Cody Getz – Air Force
5. Beau Blankenship – Ohio
Kyle Kensing
1. Zac Dysert, QB, Miami (OH)
Six total touchdowns from the RedHawks’ senior quarterback. It’s small wonder he’s impressing NFL scouts.
2. Benny Cunningham, RB, MTSU
In almost any other week, Benny Cunningham would be my runaway No. 1 vote getter. Then again, this wasn’t any other week. His five touchdowns were enough to singlehandedly outscore Georgia Tech in the Blue Raiders’ surprising rout.
3. Derek Carr, QB, Fresno State
Carr lit up San Diego State in both teams’ Mountain West opener, surpassing 500 yards and scoring five touchdowns.
4. Beau Blankenship, RB, Ohio
Ohio has so many weapons, and on Saturday Frank Solich opted to use his star running back to the tune of 269 yards.
5. Rashad Evans, WR, Fresno State
He’s not sugar, but Rashad Evans was certainly sweet in his return to Fresno State’s lineup, catching three of Derek Carr’s five touchdown passes.