Marshall University Athletics
Marshall’s Rasheen Ali Named SBC Offensive Player of The Week
9/25/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Herd running back torched Virginia Tech for 174 yards, 2 TDs in 24-17 win over Hokies
Homecoming Tickets | Donate To The Big Green
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall junior running back Rasheen Ali has been named as the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Ali earned the honor after rushing for 174 yards and two touchdowns to lead Marshall to a 24-17 win over Virginia Tech at a sold-out Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday.
"I'm really happy for Rasheen and all the other players who helped him get recognized," Marshall head coach Charles Huff said. "We have a lot of work to do and I'm sure Ali and his teammates are all looking forward to improving this week."
The performance continued Ali's ascent as one of the best running backs in the nation.
Ali is No. 1 in FBS in rushing touchdowns per game (2.3), scoring per game (14.0 points) and 50-plus yard runs with three in his first three games of 2023.
The junior from Cleveland, Ohio, is also No. 3 in FBS in rushing yards per game (132.0) and in rushing touchdowns (7) despite playing one game fewer than every other player in the top-30.
Against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Ali had the game's two biggest offensive plays that helped produce the win for the Herd.
In the second quarter, Ali broke free off the right side for a 56-yard touchdown run to give Marshall a 14-10 lead that it would never relinquish.
In the third quarter, Ali followed a Virginia Tech pass interference penalty with a 61-yard run into the VT red zone that eventually led to his 1-yard scoring run that capped a 98-yard drive and proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
Ali's 174-yard performance put him over 2,000 yards in his Marshall career and his two touchdowns also vaulted him to a tie for No. 7 on Marshall's all-time rushing touchdowns list with 31, tying Marshall legends Glenn Pedro and Ahmad Bradshaw.
Marshall now sets its sights on its first Sun Belt contest of the season as Old Dominion visits Joan C. Edwards Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday for Homecoming 2023.
For all the latest information about Marshall Football, follow @HerdFB on Twitter and @Herd_FB on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
