MCBRIDE, BISHOP, HARRSION TAKE HOME C-USA POTW HONORS

DALLAS – Following a career day where he carried 14 times for 210 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Louisiana Tech, UAB RB DeWayne McBride was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week. WKU DB Beanie Bishop took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following an impressive performance in a win over Middle Tennessee, after he recorded two interceptions, including a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown. Marshall KR Jayden Harrison was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after bringing the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a touchdown in a key road win at Florida Atlantic. 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.

McBride rushed into the UAB record book on Saturday with 14 carries for a career-high 210 yards and four touchdowns to lead UAB to a 52-38 victory over Louisiana Tech. His 210 rushing yards were the seventh-most in school history, while his four touchdowns were the second-most rushing touchdowns in a single game. He averaged 15 yards per carry in the process. McBride now has 837 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season, while averaging 7.0 yards per carry.

Bishop had a career performance with two interceptions – including a 43-yard pick-six – in WKU’s 48-21 victory over Middle Tennessee. The two interceptions were the first two in the Louisville native’s career. Bishop became only the third Conference USA defender this season with two interceptions in a game, and the first since September 18. Bishop had two of the Hilltoppers’ six interceptions on the day, which set the team’s FBS Era (since 2009) program record and is tied for second-most for a single game in C-USA history. Bishop returned his second interception 29 yards (to go along with the 43-yard touchdown made for a total of 72 return yards) to set up another WKU touchdown. For the game, the Hilltoppers forced the Blue Raiders into seven turnovers, while scoring 31 points off those turnovers. Bishop also added two tackles on defense and two kickoff returns for 48 yards on special teams.

Harrison set the tone for Marshall when he took the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the Thundering Herd’s 28-13 win at Florida Atlantic on Saturday. The play was the third time Marshall returned the opening kick for a touchdown, following Keith Baxter at Chattanooga in 1987 (89 yards) and Keion Davis at Miami (Ohio) in 2017 (99 yards). It also tied for the third-longest kick return in program history.

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, Oct. 25 – QB Wiley Green, Rice, Nov. 1 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU, Nov. 8 – RB DeWayne McBride, UAB.

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, Oct. 25 – S Gabe Taylor, Rice, Nov. 1 – LB DQ Thomas, Middle Tennessee, Nov. 8 – DB Beanie Bishop, WKU.

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, Oct. 25 – K Brayden Narveson, WKU, Nov. 1 – K Nick Rice, Old Dominion, Nov. 8 – KR Jayden Harrison, Marshall.

-ConferenceUSA.com-