Illinois State’s Pierre Rembert was to running backs Saturday what Rembrandt was to painters.
Rembert, a junior who grew up in Milwaukee, played high school ball in Cudahy, Mich., and transferred to ISU from Michigan, was named Gateway Conference offensive player of the week for his performance in the Redbirds’ 48-23 victory over Missouri State.
Rembert carried the ball 34 times, gained 272 yards and tied a league record by scoring six touchdowns on runs of 6, 2, 2, 51, 22 and 6 yards. He’s no stranger to the end zone.
He scored 80 TDs at Cudahy High, 29 his senior year, and he reached pay dirt three times for Michigan, once against Notre Dame.
Rembert’s 36 points were the most scored this year in NCAA Division I-AA.
His 272 rushing yards was second nationally to the 356 rolled up by Portland State’s Joe Rubin against Northern Colorado.
Another Redbird transfer from the Big Ten, defensive lineman Brent Hawkins from Godfrey, Ill., and Purdue, leads the nation’s I-AA schools with 15.5 sacks and is tied for the lead with five forced fumbles.
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Next: Saturday vs. Indiana State, 1:30 p.m.
