UL Notebook – Fenroy, Fleming, Offensive Stats, Odds & Ends

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • October 6, 2008

MONROE – The national recognition started flowing in for UL’s Tyrell Fenroy after a record-setting performance in Saturday’s 44-35 win over ULM.

Fenroy was named the national offensive player of the week on Sunday by the Walter Camp Football Foundation after rushing for a school-record 297 yards and tying a personal best with three touchdown runs. On Saturday night, Fenroy received a helmet sticker during ESPN’s College GameDay Final from analyst Rece Davis.

The senior scored on a career-long 89-yard run in the first quarter, a 52-yarder in the third period and an 80-yarder in the fourth quarter. The 89-yard TD run was the longest in Malone Stadium history and the longest scoring run by a Cajun.

Fenroy’s rushing total broke the school record of 271 yards previously set by quarterback Brian Mitchell against Colorado State in 1987. Only Navy’s Shun White has rushed for more yards this season with 348 against Towson on Aug. 30.

With three scoring runs, Fenroy moved into sole possession of second place on the Sun Belt’s career list with 39 rushing touchdowns. Ex-Middle Tennessee back Eugene Gross has the most rushing touchdowns in league history with 41.

Fenroy is now the nation’s active leading rusher with 4,021 yards. With another 30 rushing yards, Fenroy will become the conference’s career leader. Former North Texas back Patrick Cobbs is first with 4,050 career rushing yards.

Fenroy sits 250 yards shy of reaching 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season. He would be only the seventh player in NCAA history to accomplish that goal.

Waiting game

UL starting linebacker Grant Fleming hurt his knee in the first half of Saturday’s game and did not return.

The sophomore was seen on crutches after the game talking with family, friends, teammates and coaches. The former St. Thomas More standout was scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday to see if he suffered any ligament damage.

His father, Dallas Fleming, said on Saturday night that he was told Grant might have at least one sprained – and possibly a torn – knee ligament.

Fleming, who had three tackles on Saturday, is second on the team this season with 34 stops.

Stat-stuffer

The Cajuns set school records for rushing yards (556) and total offense (728) on Saturday, thanks to six scoring plays of at least 50 yards.

Those were the second-best totals nationally in those respective categories this season. Navy ran for 558 yards against Towson on Aug. 30. Troy gained 736 yards against Alcorn State on Sept. 13.

The previous school rushing mark was set by the Cajuns with 513 yards against Tulane in 1986. UL broke the team record for total yards established with 667 yards in a 44-27 win over Kent State on Sept. 20.

With last week’s performance, the Cajuns now lead the nation this season in rushing yards per game (331) and yards per carry (7.63). They are eighth in total offensive yards per game (517).

Odds and Ends

UL quarterback Mike Desormeaux passed Kenyon Cotton for fourth place in school history for career rushing yards (2,393). Darren Brister is third with 2,432 yards. Desormeaux is the nation’s leading rusher among quarterbacks with 585 yards and is 12th overall in rushing yards per game (117) … Fenroy moved up to third in the nation this season in rushing yards per game (150). Only Connecticut’s Donald Brown (177.83) and Michigan State’s Javon Ringer (164.67) have run for more yards. He is also tied for third in points per game (12), behind only Missouri’s Derrick Washington (14.4) and Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant (13.2) … After not turning it over on Saturday, ULM leads the nation with only three turnovers on the season.