DALLAS – After a standout performance for the Hilltoppers in their 41-28 win at FIU last week, WKU QB Austin Reed was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week. Sam Houston LB Trevor Williams took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a 12-tackle performance with a half sack and a pick-six in the win over Middle Tennessee. New Mexico State K Ethan Albertson was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season after connecting on a pair of field goals, including a 42-yard field goal as time expired to secure the win over Jax State. 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.
Reed capped off the 2023 regular season with an impressive offensive performance in WKU’s 41-28 win over FIU on Saturday in Miami. Reed played only three quarters as the Hilltoppers built a large lead, and in those three quarters, he threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns – to four different receivers – on 26-of-35 passing with no interceptions. His touchdown passes were for 2, 39, 16, and 45 yards.
Williams capped a stellar Bearkat career with a strong swansong performance in the Bearkats’ 2023 finale on Saturday, a 23-20 win over Middle Tennessee. The A&M Consolidated product racked up 12 tackles against the Blue Raiders with a half sack and a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave SHSU a 16-13 lead in the third quarter. It was the third touchdown of his career and second pick-six, having also achieved the feat at Northern Arizona in 2021. Williams finished with 135 total tackles on the year, the fifth most in a single season in Bearkat history. He also finished with 395 career tackles, the most ever in the Division I era at Sam Houston.
Albertson finished the day a perfect 4-4 on attempts by way of connecting on two field goal attempts and two extra points in New Mexico State’s 20-17 win over Jax State last week. His first field goal came as time expired in the first half – giving NM State a 17-3 lead. The second was a game-winning 42-yarder as time expired in the second half to secure the Aggies’ eighth consecutive win. This marks the third straight week that he has been perfect.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week
A28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
S4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
S11 – RB Kejon Owens, FIU
S18 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
S25 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
O2 – QB Logan Smothers, Jax State
O9 – WR Malachi Corley, WKU
O16 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
O23 – QB Zion Webb, Jax State
O30 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
N6 – RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
N13 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
N20 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
N27 – QB Austin Reed, WKU
Defensive Player of the Week
A28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
S4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
S11 – LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
S18 – LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
S25 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O2 – LB Bryson Washington, WKU
O9 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O16 – DL Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
O23 – LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
O30 – DL J-Rock Swain, Jax State
N6 – DB Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
N13 – LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
N20 – LB Gabe Peterson, New Mexico State
N27 – LB Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
Special Teams Player of the Week
A28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
S4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
S11 – K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
S18 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
S25 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
O2 – PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
O9 – P Max Morgan, Liberty
O16 – P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
O23 – K Alen Karajic, Jax State
O30 – K Buzz Flabiano, UTEP
N6 – K Colby Sessums, Sam Houston
N13 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
N20 – DB Kekoura Tarnue, Jax State
N27 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
-ConferenceUSA.com-
