JENNINGS, MALONE, NARVESON EARN C-USA POTW HONORS

DALLAS – After a standout performance where he hauled in nine catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns, Old Dominion WR Ali Jennings was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week. WKU DE DeAngelo Malone took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following his impactful play on Saturday, as WKU clinched the East Division with a win at Marshall. Malone recorded seven stops, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a pair of sacks and a key forced fumble. WKU K Brayden Narveson was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season, after he made all four field goal attempts (53, 46, 41 and 39 yards), while also making all five extra points in the Hilltoppers’ win at Marshall. 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.

Jennings caught nine passes for a career-high 252 yards and three touchdowns in ODU’s 56-34 win over Charlotte to lift the Monarchs to their fifth consecutive win to earn bowl eligibility. Seven of his nine receptions went for 17 yards or more. His 252 receiving is the most by an ODU player in the FBS era and the fourth most by an FBS receiver this season. 252 yards receiving rank Jennings fifth in Conference USA history in single-game receiving yardage. His three touchdowns ties the ODU single-game record.

Malone played a large role in the Hilltoppers’ East Division-clinching win at Marshall on Saturday. Overall, Malone had a pair of sacks (including a sack/forced fumble), 2.5 tackles for loss and seven total tackles. Malone made perhaps the game’s biggest momentum-changing play in the second quarter, sacking Herd quarterback Grant Wells near midfield and forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Hilltoppers. At the time, WKU was trailing 14-0 – but following Malone’s sack/forced fumble, the Hilltoppers scored 36-consecutive points over the next 32 minutes of game time to win 53-21.

Narveson helped the Hilltoppers turn a 14-6 halftime deficit into a 53-21 win over Marshall, as WKU came out on top in the rivalry game that decided the C-USA East Division champion. Narveson made four field goals – of 53, 46, 41 and 39 yards – while going 5-5 on extra points for a career-high 17 points scored. Narveson made two crucial field goals – of 46 and 41 yards – in the first half to put six points on the board for WKU after Marshall took an early 14-0 lead. Narveson’s 53-yard make in the third quarter matched a career-long. Narveson became only the second C-USA kicker with 17 points scored in a game over the past two years.

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, Nov. 15 – QB Bailey Zappe, WKU, Nov. 22 – QB Frank Harris, UTSA, Nov. 29 – WR Ali Jennings, Old Dominion

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, Nov. 15 – LB Jason Henderson, Old Dominion, Nov. 22 – LB Clarence Hicks, UTSA, Nov. 29 – DE DeAngelo Malone, 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, Nov. 15 – S R’Tarriun Johnson, Old Dominion, Nov. 22 – K Hunter Duplessis, UTSA, Nov. 29 – K Brayden Narveson, WKU

-ConferenceUSA.com-