PurpleMenace.com - Patton honored for special teams play

October 9, 2006

KSU Sports Information
GoPowercat.com

Leon Patton rushed for 151 yards and set a Kansas State freshman record with 301 all-purpose yards in Saturday's come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma State. But it was his 95-yard third-quarter kickoff return that earned him recognition from the Big 12 Conference Monday.

Patton, who scored twice in K-State's 31-27 win over the Cowboys, was named the Big 12 Conference special teams player of the week for games of Oct. 7 in voting by a select panel of media that cover the league, conference officials announced.

The freshman from Cedar Hill, Texas, returned his first career kickoff 22 yards during the second quarter. The next time Patton touched the ball on a kickoff, he went the distance.

With K-State trailing 13-10 in the wake of 10 straight OSU points, Patton put the Wildcats back on top at the 5:17 mark of the third quarter with a beautiful return that featured patience, a few nifty moves and the raw speed he displayed on the track throughout his prep career.

Patton is the second Wildcat to earn conference player-of-the-week honors this season. Ian Campbell was tapped as the Big 12's defensive player of the week for his efforts in K-State's season-opening victory over Illinois State.

Patton is the first Kansas State player to earn special teams honors from the Big 12 since Darren Sproles picked up the award for his efforts in the Wildcats' 42-6 win over Kansas on Oct. 25, 2003.

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