2007-08 Player of the Week - Postseason

From NCAA College Football Information & Resource

Matt Flynn, Quarterback
LSU Tigers

LSU quarterback Matt Flynn claims WikiCollegeFootball's Postseason MVP honors after steering the LSU Tiger offense to a 38-24 national championship victory over two-time runners-up, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Flynn completed 19-of-27 passes for 174 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, with two of his scoring strikes coming in the second quarter when the Tigers were making a critical 21-0 run that widened the gap to 14 at 24-10 during half time. Flynn unleashed two more touchdown passes in the second half, the first of which coming early in the third quarter to increase the Tigers' lead to three TDs. Flynn, who only had an interception in the game, also had 12 carries for 8 yards in the ball game.

Flynn, the BCS National Championship outstanding offensive player of the game, is on his final year of eligibility and has registered career single-season best stats as a senior after completing 202-of-359 passes for 2,407 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 INTs and a 125.8 passer rating. The Tyler, TX native has completed a total of 245 passes in 437 career attempts for 3,096 yards and 31 touchdowns to go along with his 340 rushing yards and 5 scoring runs in four playing years.

Key Stats:

Completion: 19-of-27
Pass Yards: 174
Touchdowns: 4
Interceptions: 1

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Runner-Ups

Ray Rice, Running Back; Rutgers Scarlet Knights — The junior rusher went out in record style after rushing for a school bowl game record 280 yards (third all-time best rushing yardage in a bowl game) and four touchdowns in leading Rutgers to a 52-30 win over Ball State in the International Bowl. The 2007 All-Big East First Team and AP All-America Second Team Selection had 35 carries and a career-long 90-yard score in his college career finale. Ray Rice, a New Rochelle, NY native, has accounted for school records 25 touchdowns and eight consecutive 100-yard games, while in the process becoming the first Big East player to break the 2,000 rush yard mark and the third in the nation to achieve the feat this season.

Paul Smith, Quarterback; Tulsa Golden Hurricane — The senior playcaller registered his NCAA-record 14th consecutive 300-yard passing game in leading the Tulsa offensive assault to a 63-7 blowout of Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl. In the process, Smith broke the previous record of 13 consecutive 300-yard passing game of Ty Detmer while becoming the 7th quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a season. Paul Smith, the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, finished his final collegiate game completing 27-of-45 passes for 312 yards and five touchdowns, to go with 9 carries for 46 yards and 1 scoring run.

Tony Temple, Running Back; Missouri Tigers — The senior running back brought his A-game on the ground, producing a Cotton Bowl record 281 rushing yards on 24 carries to lift Missouri to a 38-7 win over Arkansas. Pulled hamstring and all, the Kansas City native also set a Cotton Bowl record in scoring runs with four while establishing the second-most yards rushing in postseason history. Tony Temple, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, has now amassed 1,039 yards rushing this season on 186 carries, with 12 scoring runs while recording 7 catches for 68 yards and 1 TD.

Pat White, Quarterback; West Virginia Mountaineers — The dual-threat quarterback led West Virginia's easy 48-28 triumph over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl after producing 100+ yards on both passing and running. Pat White, a junior from Daphne, AL, went 10-for-19 for 176 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 20 times for 150 yards helping the Mountaineers improve to a 2-0 record in the BCS. The Big East Offensive Player of the Year and All-Big East First Team selection is currently ranked 9th in the nation in passing (151.4 rating), 29th in rushing (102.69 yards per game), and 47th in total offense (235.3 yards per game).

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Other Nominees

Curtis Painter, Quarterback; Purdue Boilermakers — The junior quarterback turned out a career game in leading Purdue to a 51-48 victory over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl. The Big Ten All-Conference Honorable Mention playcaller threw for a school-record 546 yards and three touchdowns to set the fourth most passing yards in bowl game history. Curtis Painter, a Vincennes, IN native, completed 35-of-54 passes and went 4-of-5 for 42 yards on the winning drive. In the process, the 6-foot-4, 223 lb playcaller broke the Purdue yardage mark shared by Drew Brees and Kyle Orton and finished just a scoring run short of joining Heisman winner Tim Tebow in the elite 20 rush-20 pass TD club this season with 27 passing and 19 rushing TDs.

Jamie Silva, Cornerback; Boston College Eagles — The senior All-American safety was tenacious on the D, recording ten tackles and intercepting two passes to help Boston College claim its eight consecutive bowl game victory with a 24-21 win over Michigan State. Jamie Silva, who also picked off a pass in the end zone, adds the Champs Sports Bowl most valuable player honors to his AP All-America and All-ACC First Team Defense accolades.

Rusty Smith, Quarterback; Florida Atlantic Owls — The sophomore quarterback tossed 336 yards and an [[R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl]] record five touchdowns in Florida Atlantic's first ever postseason appearance and win, edging Memphis, 44-27. Rusty Smith, the Sun Belt Player of the Year and All-League First Team selection, threw TDs of 4, 29, 16, 4, and 16 yards to five different receivers to earn for himself the New Orleans Bowl most valuable player honors. Smith went on to finish his sophomore season passing for 3,688 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Jonathan Stewart, Running Back; Oregon Ducks — The junior rusher established a Brut Sun Bowl record of 251 rushing yards and ran for a 71-yard score in Oregon's lopsided 56-21 postseason win over South Florida. Jonathan Stewart, an All-Pac-10 First Team Selection, also caught two passes for 29 yards and a touchdown to help the Ducks halt their three-game losing streak and win for the first time since losing QB Dennis Dixon. Stewart has now produced 1,722 rushing yards and 11 TDs on 280 carries with 22 catches for 145 yards and 2 scoring catches.

Andre' Woodson, Quarterback; Kentucky Wildcats — The senior quarterback delivered on his last collegiate game, putting up a record-breaking performance to lead Kentucky to a 35-28 win over Florida State in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. Woodson registered his 19th consecutive game with at least 200 yards after throwing for 358 yards and raised his season touchdown tosses to 40 after passing for four scores against the Seminoles. Andre' Woodson, the Music City Bowl MVP and unanimous All-SEC second team selection, also broke the SEC single-season TD passes, the UK single-season TD passes, and the UK career TD passes.

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