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2007 NFL ROM -- September

2007, 10/04/2007

NFL-ROM-SEPTEMBER

VIKINGS RB ADRIAN PETERSON & TEXANS DT AMOBI OKOYE

NAMED NFL ROOKIES OF MONTH FOR SEPTEMBER

Running back ADRIAN PETERSON of the Minnesota Vikings and defensive tackle AMOBI OKOYE of the Houston Texans are the NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month for September, the NFL announced today.


OFFENSE: RB ADRIAN PETERSON, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

· A first-round selection (No. 7 overall) from Oklahoma, Peterson led the NFC with 383 rushing yards and 549 scrimmage yards in September. Peterson carried 76 times for 383 yards (5.0 avg.) with one touchdown and added nine receptions for 166 yards (18.4 avg.), including a 60-yard touchdown. Peterson is the conference’s top rusher and aims to be the first rookie to lead the NFC in rushing yards since Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS (1,470) in 1989. In four games during the month, Peterson recorded three 100-yard rushing games, tied for the most in the NFL.

Peterson is the first Vikings player to earn Offensive Rookie of the Month honors since wide receiver RANDY MOSS collected the award in November of 1998.


DEFENSE: DT AMOBI OKOYE, HOUSTON TEXANS

Okoye, a first-round pick (No. 10 overall) from Louisville, started all four games and became the youngest player (20) to play in the NFL since the 1970 merger. Okoye notched 10 tackles, tied for the AFC lead with 4.0 sacks and forced a fumble. Okoye tied a team rookie record by posting a sack in three consecutive games and ranks second overall among defensive tackles with those 4.0 sacks. The Texans rank fourth in the AFC against the run, allowing 80.0 yards per game.

Okoye is the second consecutive Texans player to earn a Rookie of the Month Award. Houston linebacker DE MECO RYANS was honored as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in December of 2006.


2007 NFL ROOKIES OF THE MONTH

Offense (College)
Defense (College)

September
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota (Oklahoma)
DT Amobi Okoye, Houston (Louisville)


Other nominees for the September NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month Award were:

· Kansas City wide receiver DWAYNE BOWE (first round, Louisiana State), who led NFL rookies with 299 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions. Bowe tied for the NFL rookie lead with 18 catches.

· Green Bay wide receiver JAMES JONES (third round, San Jose State), who tied for the NFL rookie lead with 18 receptions and ranked second among rookies with 232 yards.

· Buffalo running back MARSHAWN LYNCH (first round, California), who ranked second among rookies with 307 rushing yards and led all rookies with three rushing touchdowns.

· Tampa Bay guard ARRON SEARS (second round, Tennessee), who started all four games and helped the Buccaneers rank second in the NFC in rushing (137.0 yards per game).


Other nominees for the September NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month Award were:

· Detroit safety GERALD ALEXANDER (second round, Boise State), who started all four games and recorded 14 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed along with five special teams tackles.

· Tampa Bay safety TANARD JACKSON (fourth round, Syracuse), who started all four games and had 27 tackles, one forced fumble and a pass defensed along with six special teams tackles.

· Tampa Bay defensive tackle GREG PETERSON (fifth round, North Carolina Central), who posted 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed along with two special teams tackles.

· San Francisco linebacker PATRICK WILLIS (first round, Mississippi), who started all four games and led the team with 51 tackles while adding three passes defensed and one forced fumble.