He leads the nation in rushing, averaging 203 yards per game and has scored 18 rushing touchdowns, third in the country.
He is just the second UB player to win MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, joining former quarterback Tyree Jackson who won the award in 2018.Patterson has assembled a historic season through only five games. Patterson is the first player in Buffalo program history to win the prestigious Vern Smith Leadership Award. Western Michigan senior wide receiver/kickoff returner D'Wayne 'Dee' Eskridge was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Ball State linebacker Brandon Martin and Central Michigan defensive end Troy Hairston II shared MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Buffalo Head Coach Lance Leipold was selected as the MAC Head Coach of the Year, while Central Michigan running back Lew Nichols III was named MAC Freshman of the Year. Buffalo junior running back Jaret Patterson was tabbed the winner of the 39th Vern Smith Leadership Award as the top player in the MAC and was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
