IRVING, Texas – Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and Texas Tech linebacker Krishon Merriweather picked up Big 12 football weekly honors while a pair of Oklahoma standouts Stephen Johnson and Spencer Rattler also collected accolades in the first week of the 2020 season.
Ehlinger took home Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, while first-year Red Raider Merriweather earned Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson garnered Special Teams Player of the Week as Rattler picked up Newcomer of the Week.
A record-setting performance for Ehlinger included 424 passing yards and five touchdowns in the first half against UTEP to set Longhorn single-half records. He finished 25-for-33 with career-highs of 426 yards and five touchdowns through the air. That marks the third-most prolific passing game, in terms of yardage, in school history, and is tied for the second-most passing touchdowns in a single game on UT record. On Sunday, Ehlinger was tabbed the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week.
Merriweather, who led the NJCAA in tackles a year ago before transferring to Texas Tech, led all Big 12 players with 12 tackles in Texas Tech's victory over Houston Baptist. He became the first Red Raider since 2000 to record double digits in tackles during a season opener. Merriweather's ranked tied four fourth nationally in the FBS.
Johnson, the back-up for the Sooners, handled all of OU's kicking duties in the 48-0 shutout over Missouri State. The redshirt senior, whose only career appearance entering the night had been for an on-side kick attempt last season, was 2 for 2 on field goals (22 and 42 yards), made all six of his PATs and kicked off nine times.
In his first career start, and in only one half of work, Rattler completed 14-of-17 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns without an interception against Missouri State. He became the first OU freshman QB to throw four TD passes in his first start. His passing efficiency rating set Big 12 and Oklahoma freshman records and was the third-highest in OU history regardless of class.
The league offensive honor is the second for Ehlinger in his career, while the remaining winners are first-time recipients.