Rankin named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week

RANKIN, LARSEN, CASON NAMED U.S. BANK PAC-10 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--Tailback Louis Rankin of Washington and linebacker Spencer Larsen and cornerback/punt returner Antoine Cason of Arizona have been named U.S. Bank Pac-10 Football Players of the Week.

Rankin, a senior from Stockton, Calif., keyed Washington's offense in the Huskies 37-23 win against California. Rankin rushed 21 times for 224 yards (10.7-yard average) and one touchdown. The Huskies rushed for a total of 334 yards against the Golden Bears. It marked the second time in three weeks Rankin earned offensive player of the week honors, having also been named after rushing for 255 yards against Stanford on November 3.

Larsen and Cason played major roles in Arizona's 34-24 upset win against No. 2-ranked Oregon.

Larsen, a senior from Gilbert, Ariz., had a game-high 16 tackles, 12 solo, including three tackles for loss (-21) and one quarterback sack (-18), and he forced a fumble. The Arizona defense forced four turnovers, including three interceptions returned for 87 yards and a touchdown and posted four quarterback sacks (-40).

Cason, a senior from Long Beach, Calif., scored two touchdowns against Oregon, one on a 56-yard punt return and another on a 42-yard interception return. He averaged 22.7 yards on three punt returns and his punt return for a touchdown was his second of the year.

Others nominated for offensive player of the week honors were wide receivers Mike Thomas of Arizona and James Rodgers of Oregon State. Also nominated on defense were linebacker Derrick Doggett of Oregon State and safety Darin Harris of Washington. Kicker Alexis Serna of Oregon State was nominated for special teams play.

2007 U.S. BANK PAC-10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Week Offense Defense Special Teams

Sep. 1 Ben Olson, QB, UCLA Robert James, LB, ASU DeSean Jackson, PR, CAL

Sep. 8 Dennis Dixon, QB, ORE Roy Lewis, CB, WASH Aaron Perez, P, UCLA

Sep. 15 Stafon Johnson, TB, USC Bo McNally, FS, STAN Derek Belch, PK, STAN

Sep. 22 Dennis Dixon, QB, ORE Thomas DeCoud, FS, CAL Matthew Slater, KR, UCLA

Sep. 29 DeSean Jackson, WR, CAL Trey Brown, CB, UCLA Thomas Weber, PK, ASU

Oct. 6 Mark Bradford, WR, STAN Pannel Egboh, DE, STAN Thomas Weber, PK, ASU

Oct. 13 Yvenson Bernard, TB, OSU Nick Reed, DE, ORE Keenyn Crier, P, ARIZ

Oct. 20 Jonathan Stewart, TB, ORE Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA Kai Forbath, PK, UCLA

Oct. 27 Willie Tuitama, QB, ARIZ Matthew Harper, FS, ORE Mike Thomas, KR, ARIZ

Nov. 3 Dennis Dixon, QB, ORE Nick Reed, DE, ORE Jason Bondzio, PK, ARIZ

Louis Rankin, TB, WASH

Nov. 10 Chauncey Washington, TB, USC Husain Abdullah, FS, WSU Alexis Serna, PK, OSU

Nov. 17 Louis Rankin, TB, WASH Spencer Larsen, OLB, ARIZ Antoine Cason, PR, ARIZ