Ray Graham Earns Rave Reviews at Midseason

Oct. 21, 2011

PITTSBURGH—Pitt junior running back Ray Graham, who leads the country in total rushing yards with 939, has drawn rave reviews at midseason from numerous media outlets.

Graham has been named a “Midseason All-American” by Phil Steele and SI.com. Additionally, CollegeFootballNews.com named Graham the Big East Conference’s top overall player at midseason.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Graham (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) has established himself as one of the most exciting – and prolific – offensive players in the country. Among his statistical superlatives:

* Graham leads the country in total rushing yards with 939. (Alabama's Trent Richardson is second with 912.)

* His 939 rushing yards are the second most by a Pitt player after seven games in school history. Graham's total trails only the legendary Tony Dorsett, who had 1,072 yards through the first seven games of his 1976 Heisman Trophy season.

* Graham is third nationally and tops the Big East in rushing yards per game (134.14 avg.). He is second in the Big East and 13th nationally in all-purpose yards, averaging 167.71 yards per game.

* On the season, Graham is averaging 5.8 yards on 162 carries and has nine rushing touchdowns. He is also Pitt’s top pass catcher with 30 receptions for 200 yards.

Incredibly, Graham’s production has come while working behind an injury-plagued offensive line. The Panthers have fielded four different starting lineups on the offensive front over the past five games.

The midseason recognitions are the latest honors for Graham during his decorated junior season.

He was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s National Offensive Player of the Week after he rushed for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries (8.7 avg.) against previously unbeaten USF. Graham has twice been named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week – for his performance against USF and his 201-yard, three-touchdown effort against Buffalo.

Pitt is off this week. The Panthers are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 26, when they host Connecticut in a nationally televised ESPN game at 8 p.m.