DALLAS – After hauling in 11 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ win over FIU, Louisiana Tech WR Smoke Harris was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week. Jacksonville State S Jeremiah Harris took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following an eight tackle, one interception performance in the Gamecocks’ first win as an FBS program, over UTEP on Saturday. Harris’ teammate, P Jack Dawson was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after averaging 45.8 yards per attempt with a long of 62 in Jax State’s season-opening victory. The 2023 CUSA Players of the Week awards are presented by Blenders Eyewear and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Smoke Harris was the difference maker in the Bulldogs’ 22-17 Week 0 league win over FIU on Saturday night at Joe Aillett Stadium. The redshirt senior caught a career-high 11 receptions for 155 yards (one yard shy of tying his career high in receiving yards) and one touchdown. In doing so, he extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 33, which is the seventh-longest active streak among all FBS players. Harris’ 64-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the third-longest reception of his career. The 155-yard performance was his third 100-yard receiving game of his career. Harris has registered a touchdown reception in each of the last six seasons.
Jeremiah Harris recorded eight tackles and an interception to lead the Gamecocks to a 17-14 win over UTEP in their CUSA debut. Harris’ interception was the play of the game, sealing the win for Jax State when he picked off Gavin Hardison’s fourth-down pass to Tyrin Smith with 1:15 to play in the game, allowing the Gamecocks to run out the clock and hold on for the win. It marked the third interception of his career.
Dawson helped the Gamecocks control field position for much of their 17-14 win over UTEP in Jax State’s CUSA and FBS debut. He punted five times for an average of 45.8 yards, including two over 50 yards, with a long of 62 and three pinned inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Dawson’s first punt of the season came after the Gamecock’s opening drive and went 62 yards before being downed at the UTEP five-yard line. His final two punts came in the fourth quarter, when Jax State was clinging to a lead and both were pinned inside the 20, one a 40-yarder to the UTEP 14 and the final one a 50-yarder to the UTEP 12 with 4:41 to play.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week – Aug. 28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
Defensive Player of the Week – Aug. 28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
Special Teams Player of the Week – Aug. 28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
-ConferenceUSA.com-
