University Park, Pa. — The history-making week for Penn State’s Rob Bolden (Orchard Lake, Mich.) continues.
Two days after delivering the best passing performance by a true freshman starter in Penn State annals, Bolden has been named the Big Ten Conference’s inaugural Freshman of the Week. He shares the honor with Michigan State running back LeVeon Bell.
Named the Nittany Lions’ starter on Sept. 1, Bolden looked like a seasoned veteran in leading No. 19/14 Penn State to a 44-14 season opening win over Youngstown State last Saturday. The 6-3, 221-pound Bolden was 20 of 29 for 239 yards, with two touchdown passes to wide receiver Brett Brackett (Lawrenceville, N.J.) to surpass Tony Sacca’s effort of 15-of-27 for 215 yards and no touchdowns in a 24-10 loss to Syracuse in 1988.
Bolden was the first Penn State true freshman quarterback to start a game since Wally Richardson vs. Temple in 1992 and he directed the Nittany Lions to their 38th season opening win in Joe Paterno’s 45 seasons as head coach. Both of Bolden’s touchdown passes went to senior co-captain Brackett (20 and 22 yards), who broke his career-highs with eight catches for 98 yards.
The former Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep standout exhibited great poise in helping Penn State to 41 unanswered points in its 124th season opener (103-19-2 record). On third down plays, Bolden was 8 of 9 for 124 yards, resulting in seven first downs and scoring strike. Bolden was not sacked and was intercepted just once, a second quarter pick that he quickly shook off by leading the Lions on a 68-yard scoring drive on their next possession, capped by a 20-yard bullet to Brackett over the middle.
One of the nation’s most highly recruited quarterbacks in 2009-10, Bolden graduated from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep and enrolled at Penn State in May. He led his team to the 2009 MHSAA Division 3 state championship game.
Penn State visits No. 1 Alabama (1-0) on Saturday in the first meeting between the national powers since 1990. The Crimson Tide lead the series, 8-5. The 2009 BCS national champions beat San Jose State, 48-3, on Saturday, and have won 15 consecutive games. The clash will kick off at 6:00 p.m. CT/7:00 p.m. ET in Bryant-Denny Stadium and air on ESPN, the Penn State Sports Network and GoPSUSports.com.
ESPN’s College GameDay Built by the Home Depot will originate from the Penn State-Alabama game Saturday starting at 9 a.m. ET on ESPNU and then on ESPN at 10 a.m. College GameDay on ESPN Radio also will originate from the Tuscaloosa Saturday from noon-7 p.m. on ESPN Radio affiliates nationwide.