Louisville running back Michael Bush, Connecticut cornerback Darius Butler and Rutgers' Willie Foster received BIG EAST Conference weekly football honors on Monday. Bush was named the BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while Butler earned conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Foster received BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week accolades, marking the second time this season that he has garnered that honor.
Bush rushed for a career-high 204 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns in Louisville's 61-10 win over Florida Atlantic on Oct. 1. It was his second 100-yard rushing game this season and the fifth of his career. The 204 yards was the most rushing yards by a Cardinal player since Anthony Shelman ran for 220 versus Tulsa on Nov. 29, 1994. Bush leads the BIG EAST in touchdowns with nine.
In a 47-13 Connecticut win at Army on Oct. 1, Butler tied a BIG EAST and school record with three interceptions. He totaled 122 return yards, including an 86-yard interception return for a touchdown - coming on his final pickoff. The 122 return yards is the second best performance in BIG EAST history, trailing only Vann Washington of West Virginia who recorded 172 yards on Oct. 29, 1994 versus Louisiana Tech.
In Rutgers' 37-29 victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 30, Foster returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown. He also had 59 kickoff return yards, giving him 130 total return yards. The touchdown was his second of the season. Foster also returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score versus Villanova on Sept. 10. He is the first RU player since Ken Smith in 1980 to return a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in the same season.
Offensive Player of the Week
Michael Bush, Louisville, RB, JR., 6-3, 250, Louisville, Ky./Male
Defensive Player of the Week
Darius Butler, Connecticut, CB, FR., 5-10, 175, Tamarac, Fla./Coral Springs Charter
Special Teams Player of the Week
Willie Foster, Rutgers, WR, JR., 5-10, 170, Miami, Fla./Miami Central
Weekly Honor Roll
Matt Bonislawski, Connecticut, QB
Terry Caulley, Connecticut, RB
Elvis Dumervil, Louisville, DE
Courtney Greene, Rutgers, S
Brian Leonard, Rutgers, FB