DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis running back Ulonzo Gilliam, Jr. claimed Madness National Offensive Player of the Week and Madness Big Sky Conference Player of the Week distinction from College Sports Madness, the outlet announced Sunday. Gilliam becomes the first Aggie to win the overall national award since Jake Maier snared the same on October 15 last season.
The Merced, Calif. product rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns while adding four receptions for another 13 ticks in Saturday's 45-28 victory over Portland State. The performance hit three significant milestones for Gilliam: it marked the first 200-yard rushing game of his collegiate career, put him over the 1,000-yard threshold for the season (1,055) and made him the ninth Aggie to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a career (2,031).
Nearing the five-minute mark of the third quarter at PSU, Gilliam sprung for a 75-yard rushing touchdown – a personal best, the longest play from scrimmage by the Aggies this season, and a score that gave UC Davis a 24-14 lead. He scored from 19 yards out for his second TD in the final minute of the contest, securing the Big Sky Conference road win.
Gilliam was a HERO Sports Freshman All-American and a third-team All-Big Sky Conference honoree last season. He currently leads the Big Sky and ranks 11th nationally with 105.5 rushing yards per game.
UC Davis returns to action for its regular-season home finale against Montana State Saturday. Kickoff is 4 p.m.
ABOUT UC DAVIS: Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
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