clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Oliver Vernon named special teams player of the week

Miami Dolphins rookie defensive end Olivier Vernon was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 8 after his stellar play against the New York Jets.

By T.J. Doyle
Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

The Miami Dolphins dominated the New York Jets on Sunday, crushing Rex Ryan's squad, 30-9, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Among the many strong performances put on by Miami players was the work of rookie defensive end Olivier Vernon, who earned the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for Week 8.

Vernon, a rookie third-round pick and former Miami Hurricane, became just the fourth non-kicker to win the award for the Dolphins. He scored his first career touchdown after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone in the first quarter, and also registered the first field goal block of his career at the end of the first half, knocking down a Nick Folk 35-yard attempt.

Vernon becomes the first Dolphins rookie to take home a Special Teams Player of the Week honor since Dan Carpenter in Week 14 of 2008. He is the first Miami player to earn the award during the 2012 season.

In This Stream

Dolphins vs. Jets 2012: Miami loses Tannehill, blows out New York, 30-9

View all 9 stories

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.