BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following Mississippi State’s 28-13 triumph over No. 16 Texas A&M, senior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
Monday’s announcement marks the second time this season Fitzgerald has brought home the laurel and the sixth time in his career he has been named SEC Offensive Player of the Week, which surpasses Dak Prescott for the most selections in MSU history.
Behind a four-touchdown performance, Fitzgerald led the MSU offense to its second victory over a top-20 team this season with Saturday’s win.
In addition, Fitzgerald was named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s “Great 8” list for Week 9 by the award’s selection committee and was one of eight quarterbacks announced as a Star of the Week by the Manning Award.
Joining Fitzgerald on the Davey O’Brien’s “Great 8” list are Oklahoma State’s Taylor Cornelius, Syracuse’s Eric Dungey, Houston’ D’Eriq King, Utah’s Jordan Love, Washington State’s Gardner Minshew, Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray and fellow SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week Jake Fromm of Georgia.
The winner of the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week Award, which will be one of the week’s “Great 8” quarterbacks, will be announced Wednesday.
The Manning Award’s Stars of the Week features Fitzgerald, Cornelius, Dungey, Fromm, King, Love, Minshew and Oregon State’s Jake Luton. Fans can go to the All-Star Sugar Bowl FB page to vote. When voting closes on Thursday, the top vote-getter will be announced as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.
Fitzgerald accounted for 329 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, including a career-long, game-clinching 76-yard touchdown run with 2:17 remaining in the game. The Richmond Hill, Georgia, native threw for a season-best 241 yards on 14-of-22 passing and two touchdowns through the air.
The passing yards output was his best in an SEC game since throwing for 328 on Nov. 19, 2016, as a sophomore against Arkansas. Fitzgerald threw touchdowns passes of 25 and 38 yards, and he fired a career-long, 84-yard pass to Stephen Guidry on 3rd-and-21 that set up one of his two rushing scores in the fourth quarter.
Fitzgerald rushed for 88 yards and two scores against an Aggie defense that led the SEC and ranked fourth nationally against the run. In the process, Fitzgerald tied the MSU career record for rushing scores with 42, matching running back Anthony Dixon (2006-09).
No. 21 MSU steps out of SEC play next Saturday when it welcomes Louisiana Tech for Homecoming at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network. LA Tech (6-2) has won three in a row and sits in second place in the Conference USA West division standings.
