PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After accounting for five touchdowns in Rutgers football's win over Morgan State, true freshman quarterback Johnathan Lewis was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week by the league office on Monday. He is the first Scarlet Knight to earn the honor since RU joined the conference for the 2014 season.
 
Lewis rushed for four touchdowns against the Bears, the most by a Rutgers quarterback in a game in program history. The East Orange, New Jersey, native also became just the eighth player in school record books to run for four or more touchdowns in a game and the second true freshman in that group (Justise Hairston with four at Navy in 2003). Ray Rice was the last Scarlet Knight to rush for four scores in a single game in his final collegiate appearance in the 2008 International Bowl.
 
Having playing in two career games, Lewis is one of five players at the FBS level this season to rush for four or more touchdowns in a game. He is the only freshman on the list.
 
Lewis also threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Nakia Griffin-Stewart on his first collegiate passing attempt in the second quarter to finish with five touchdowns accounted for. The last Rutgers quarterback responsible for five touchdowns in a game was Gary Nova at Fresno State in the 2013 opener (all passing scores).
 
Janarion Grant was the last RU true freshman to pick up a conference weekly honor (American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 23, 2013).
 
Rutgers will open Big Ten play with a road game on Saturday at Nebraska. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
 
Big Ten Weekly Honors (Sept. 18)
Offensive: Alex Hornibrook, Wisconsin
Defensive: Jacob Huff, Minnesota
Special Teams: Quinn Nordin, Michigan
Co-Freshman: J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State AND Johnathan Lewis, Rutgers
 
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