Rankin, Gonzalez Selected MEAC Players of the Week - Morgan State University Athletics

BALTIMORE, Md. – Joe Rankin of Morgan State was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Earvin Gonzalez was selected as the Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced today.

Broderick Waters of Bethune-Cookman was selected as the MEAC's Offensive Player of the Week, Jamie Cunningham of Howard was selected as the Rookie of the Week and North Carolina Central's Darius James was selected Offensive Lineman of the Week.

Rankin, a Germantown (Md.) native, recorded six tackles and had three breakups, but most importantly intercepted a pass and raced 72 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was the first time in two years that the Bears had a player return an interception for a score.

It marked Rankin's sixth (6) career interception and the first he returned to “the house.” Rankin was also named Monday (Sept. 2) by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) as Defensive Back of the Week honorable mention.

Gonzalez, a product of Visalia (Calif.), came up big for MSU on Saturday. The senior connected on three field goals of 32, 21, and a 20-yard field goal in the fourth overtime to give the Bears' a season opening victory over Sacred Heart. He also converted 3-of-3 extra point attempts versus the Pioneers.

Morgan State (1-0) takes on Buffalo this Saturday at 6 p.m. at UB Stadium. The Bulls (0-1) will attempt to bounce back from a 45-23 loss at Georgia. It will mark the third meeting between the teams since 1992. MSU won the first game 45-27, and the Bulls posted a 35-17 win against the Bears in 1998.

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