TAMPA (SNN-TV) – USF freshman kick returner and former Sarasota Sailor, Brian Battie, has been named the American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time on the season after his NCAA record tying performance vs. Houston.
Currently ranked No. 2 in the nation averaging 36.3 yards per kickoff return and leading the nation with three touchdown returns, Battie dazzled the Raymond James Stadium crowd on homecoming vs. Houston as he joined Utah’s Reggie Dunn (vs. Cal in 2012) as the only two players in NCAA history to post two 100-yard kickoff returns in the same game. Battie took the opening kickoff of the game 100 yards for a score and later did it again in the second quarter, part of three touchdowns and 236 all-purpose yards for the 5-8 running back/kick returner in the game. Battie also scored on a 29-yard run and his 208 kickoff return yards in the game are second all-time at USF behind Terrence Horne’s 264 vs. Georgia Tech in 2018.
Battie now has three 100-yard kickoff returns on the season (also posting one vs. Tulsa in Week 7) and stands one behind Dunn’s NCAA record of four posted in the 2012 season. He joined Alabama’s Jameson Williams as the only players to post two touchdown returns in the same game this season. Williams doing so vs. Southern Mississippi.
Battie is the first USF player to post more than one 100-yard return on their career and he has set USF season and career records by posting three touchdown returns on kickoffs. He joined fellow Bull Horne among just 27 players in NCAA history to post two returns for touchdowns in one game, Horne doing so in 2018 vs. Georgia Tech (98 & 97).
Battie’s 36.3 yards per return average is well ahead of the USF season record with three games to play. J.R. Reed led the nation with a 31.7 yards per return average in 2003 to set the USF season record. Battie’s 14 kickoff returns for 508 yards are just 26 shy of entering the USF top 10 season marks with eight fewer returns than No. 10 on the list. Lindsey Lamar owns the USF season record of 903 yards posted in 2010 when he also posted a 100-yard kickoff return at Louisville. Mike Jenkins has the other 100-yard return in USF history, posting it vs. Cincinnati in 2007.
USF takes on No. 2-ranked Cincinnati Friday at Raymond James Stadium in a primetime telecast on ESPN2. The game against the highest ranked opponent to play the Bulls in Ray Jay is set for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
