Nov. 22, 2009

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue freshman Al-Terek McBurse has been named the National Kick Returner of the Week for his performance in yesterday's 38-21 victory over Indiana.

The recognition came from College Football Performance Awards.

In his first Old Oaken Bucket game, McBurse, from Winter Springs, Fla., returned the second half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to extend the Boilermakers' lead to 28-7. It was Purdue's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Dorien Bryant had a 98-yarder at Penn State on Nov. 3, 2007.

"If you watch it, you see a big hole open up and I just ran straight basically and had the kicker to beat," McBurse said. "The guys threw some good blocks to open up a seam and I hit it and took it all the way."

McBurse, who did not play until this season's seventh game, was flat out challenged by head coach Danny Hope on Friday.

"I asked him what he was waiting for," Hope said. "We had one game left, and I put him back there to make a difference on our football team. To get him some game experience is going to be very important to us next season.

"I expected him to go out there and take one to the house. I would have been disappointed if he didn't."

For the season, McBurse returned 19 kickoffs for 468 yards. His average of 24.6 yards ranked seventh in the Big Ten.

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