Northwestern University Athletics
NU's Vitale Earns Conference Freshman of the Week Accolades
11/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2012
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern true freshman superback Dan Vitale (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) was tabbed the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week Monday in recognition of his breakout performance in a win over Michigan State Saturday in East Lansing.
Vitale more than tripled his previous single-game high for receiving yards, collecting 110 yards on nine catches against the Spartans. In doing so, Vitale became the first NU superback to reach 100 yards in a game since Drake Dunsmore recorded 112 against Indiana on Oct. 29, 2011.
Vitale also set up Northwestern's game-winning field goal midway through the fourth quarter with his career-long 41-yard catch and run down to the Spartans' 23-yard line.
The Wheaton, Ill., native now has 21 catches on the year for 206 yards -- an average of 9.8 yards per reception -- and a pair of touchdown grabs.
Vitale is the second NU player to receive Freshman of the Week honors from the Big Ten after redshirt freshman cornerback Nick VanHoose took home the award on Monday, Oct. 15.
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