Nov. 15, 2006

HOUSTON, Texas - Ohio freshman Chris Garrett (Bristow, Va.) has been named one of 18 semifinalists for the inaugural Randy Moss Return Man Award. The award is presented to the Division I-A collegiate player who demonstrates exceptional talent and skill in returning punts or kickoffs.

Garrett currently leads the MAC and ranks second in the nation in punt returns with a 19.5 yards-per-return average. He has already amassed 312 punt return yards this season which is tied for third on the Bobcats' single-season ledger. With at least two games left on the schedule, he needs just 85 more return yards to break the Bobcats' single-season record. Garrett is already just 56 punt return yards shy of cracking Ohio's all-time top 10.

Garrett posted a school-record 88-yard return against Western Michigan for his first collegiate touchdown. The return still stands in a second-place tie for the longest in the nation this season. His 97 punt return yards in that game are the eighth most in school history.

The rookie's breakout performance came at Rutgers where he ran back three punts for 90 yards. His 30.0 punt return average was the fourth best in school history among players with at least three returns in a game. His 90 punt return yards ranks 10th on the Bobcats' single-game ledger.

Garrett is a two-time MAC East Division Special Teams Player of the Week. He earned the honors after the Rutgers and Western Michigan games.

While not ranked in the country because of not meeting the minimum number of returns, Garrett is also the Bobcats' top kick returner, averaging 25.0 yards on nine returns, including a career-long 57-yarder at Illinois.

Garrett is the only MAC player to be named a semifinalist for the award. The finalists will be announced on Dec. 13, 2006, and the winner will be presented at the North South All-Star Classic being played on Jan. 13, 2007 in Houston, Texas.