C-USA Football: Week Six Players of the Week (Monday, Oct. 11, 2021)

HARRIS, WRIGHT, BYRD TAKE HOME C-USA POTW HONORS

DALLAS – Following an evening where he completed 28-38 passes for 349 yards and six passing touchdowns, 51 rushing yards and a 23-yard receiving touchdown at WKU, UTSA QB Frank Harris was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. UAB DE Alex Wright took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a huge performance in a conference win over Florida Atlantic, tallying eight tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles. Charlotte KR Shadrick Byrd was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a pair of kickoffs for 60 and 57 yards, respectively at FIU in a win. 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.

Harris’ record-setting night helped lead UTSA to a 52-46 win over WKU on Saturday night in Bowling Green. Harris completed 28-38 passes for a career-best 349 yards and a school-record six touchdowns — tied for second-most in a game by an FBS player this year — as the Roadrunners racked up a season-high 564 yards of offense. Harris also caught a 23-yard touchdown pass, giving him seven total scores in the game (tied-third most in C-USA history), and he rushed for 51 yards on nine carries to help send UTSA to the first 6-0 start in school history. The Schertz Clemens High School product now has thrown for 1,475 yards and 12 TDs on 127-182 passing this season and his 69.8% completion percentage stands 11th in the FBS. Harris also set a UTSA single-game record for total offense with 400 yards.

Wright set career highs in tackles (8), tackles for loss (3.0) sacks (2.0) and forced two fumbles, one of which UAB recovered at the FAU 15-yard line as the Blazers defeated the Owls 31-14. Wright led a dominant defensive charge that held the high-powered FAU offense to just 291 total yards. Overall, UAB had eight sacks, 11 TFL and four takeaways in the Blazers’ first win in their new home, Protective Stadium.

Byrd set up a pair of 49ers scores with two long kick-off returns in the 49ers win at FIU on Friday. Byrd had returns of 60 and 57 yards as Charlotte twice opened up drives in FIU territory, which was key for the 49ers as each kick returns followed FIU scores. Byrd totaled 117 yards on his two returns (and added a team-high 80 rushing yards) as the 49ers excelled on special teams on their way to a 2-0 start in C-USA play and a 4-2 start overall, which equals the best start 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

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

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

-ConferenceUSA.com-