Pitt sophomore running back James Conner was selected as the Maxwell Award Player of the Week on Thursday for his performance in Pitt’s loss Saturday against Duke.

Conner ran for a career-high 263 yards and three touchdowns in the game, surpassing his previous career high in rushing yards of 229 against Bowling Green in last season’s Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

The selection marks the second time this season Conner won the award. He first won it after Pitt’s game at Boston College on Sept. 5, where Conner ran for 214 yards and one touchdown.

Conner has run for 1,342 yards through nine games this season, which trails only Tony Dorsett (1,525 yards in 1976, 1,348 in 1973) for the most in Pitt history through nine games.

After Pitt’s loss to Duke Saturday, Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe said Conner is “playing as well as any back in the country.”

Conner has also been named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week three times this season, including once this week.

Conner currently leads the FBS in rushing yards, and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry this season.

Pitt has a bye this week, then plays at North Carolina at 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 15.