Dec. 5, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. -- Quarterback Taylor Heinicke (Atlanta, Ga.) was named the Sports Network's National Freshman of the Week for the second week in a row and third time this season.
Heinicke accounted for six touchdowns in a 55-48 shootout loss to Georgia Southern in the second round of the NCAA Division I Football Championships having completed 25-of-44 pass attempts for 341 yards and a school-tying record five touchdowns. The Georgia native also added seven carries for 75 yards and a 20-yard scoring run.
In playoff action, the true freshman signal caller set school records with five touchdown passes in games against both Norfolk State and Georgia Southern and averaged 307.5 yards passing in the post-season.
Heinicke, who took over quarterback duties for the Monarchs in the second half of ODU's October 1st contest with UMass, finished out the 2011 campaign completing 211 of his 307 passes with just one interception, a hail mary pass at the end of ODU's contest with Towson.
Heinicke's name does not appear in the conference or national stats due to the fact he did not play in the minimum 75% of games played to qualify having took to the field in nine of ODU's 13 games, resulting in him appearing in only 69% of the Monarchs' contests played. However, if his name did appear, his 265 passing yards per game would have ranked 18th nationally, his 160.2 pass efficiency rating would place him sixth nationally, and his 305.3 yards of total offense per contest would put his name 10th nationally.