STERNS, TAYLOR, CASH TAKE HOME C-USA POTW HONORS

DALLAS – Following an evening where he hauled in 13 catches for a career-high 221 yards and a touchdown in a win at Old Dominion, WKU WR Jerreth Sterns was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. UTEP DE Jadrian Taylor took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a huge performance in a conference win over Louisiana Tech, tying a program record with 3.5 sacks, and also posted six total tackles. UAB S Grayson Cash was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt and recovering it for a touchdown in a win at Southern Miss. The 2021 C-USA Players of the Week awards are presented by Surf & Turf Golf and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.

Sterns continued his incredible receiving run in WKU’s 43-20 victory at ODU, as he totaled 13 receptions for a career-high 221 yards and career-long 74-yard touchdown. Sterns became the second Hilltopper in program history to eclipse the 200-yard receiving mark and first since 1995. He had eight catches for 188 yards in the first half alone, as WKU took a commanding 30-3 lead into the break. In a three-game span – against undefeated Michigan State, undefeated UTSA and the Monarchs, who previously had the No. 2 defense in Conference USA – Sterns has accumulated 46 receptions for 602 yards and four touchdowns. Sterns leads all FBS receivers with 69 receptions for 962 yards, while his eight touchdowns are tied for fourth.

Taylor tied a school record with a career-high 3.5 sacks in UTEP’s defensive victory against LA Tech on Oct. 16. Taylor added career bests in tackles (six) and tackles for loss (3.5). Taylor’s 3.5 sacks totaled 13 loss yards. Louisiana Tech QB Austin Kendall started 6-6, but ended the night 14-28 due to UTEP’s strong defensive effort. The Bulldogs’ three points were the fewest in a conference game since 2008 (members of the WAC). Additionally, all of Taylor’s sacks came during the first half.

With UAB leading Southern Miss 10-0 in the second quarter, Cash blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to spark a 34-0 victory. It was Cash’s second blocked punt of the season and his second straight game scoring a touchdown after his 100-yard interception return for a touchdown last week. Cash also added one tackle and a PBU against Southern Miss.

2021 WINNERS

Offensive Player of the Week – Aug. 30 – WR Jacob Cowing, UTEP, Sept. 6 – QB Chris Reynolds, Charlotte, Sept. 13 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU and QB N’Kosi Perry, Florida Atlantic, Sept. 20 – TE Gerrit Prince, UAB, Sept. 27 – QB Chris Reynolds, Charlotte, Oct. 4 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU, Oct. 11 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA, Oct 18 – WR Jerreth Sterns, WKU

Defensive Player of the Week – Aug. 30 – S Dy’Vonne Inyang, UTEP, Sept. 6 – LB Eli Neal, Marshall, Sept. 13 – DB BeeJay Williamson, Louisiana Tech, Sept. 20 – DL Trumane Bell II, UTSA, Sept. 27 – LB Clarence Hicks, UTSA and S A.J. Brathwaite, Jr., WKU, Oct. 4 – S Reed Blankenship, Middle Tennessee, Oct. 11 – DE Alex Wright, UAB, Oct. 18 – DE Jadrian Taylor, UTEP

Special Teams Player of the Week – Aug. 30 – K Gavin Baechle, UTEP, Sept. 6 – K Hunter Duplessis, UTSA, Sept. 13 – PR Sheldon Jones, UTSA, Sept. 20 – P Kyle Greenwell, UAB, Sept. 27 – K Hunter Duplessis, UTSA, Oct. 4 – KR Camron Harrell, Southern Miss, Oct. 11 – KR Shadrick Byrd, Charlotte, Oct. 18 – S Grayson Cash

-ConferenceUSA.com-