DALLAS – After another big performance for the undefeated Flames in their road win over WKU, Liberty QB Kaidon Salter was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season. Jax State DL J-Rock Swain took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a six-tackle performance with 3.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in the win at FIU. UTEP K Buzz Flabiano was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on a game-winning 32-yard field goal with just three seconds remaining in UTEP’s win at Sam Houston on Wednesday night. 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.
Salter finished the win at WKU on Tuesday with four of Liberty’s six touchdowns (three passing, one rushing). He posted his second career 100-yard rushing game (117 yards), which have happened in back-to-back weeks. The Texas native ranks second in the country in rushing yards by a quarterback (614) after carrying 13 times for 117 against the Hilltoppers. Salter threw three touchdown passes, his highest total this year against a CUSA opponent and the game marked the fifth time in eight games without throwing an interception. The sophomore has Liberty ranked third in the country in fewest passed intercepted in 2023 (three).
Swain, who plays the Bandit position for the Gamecocks, led the Jax State defense in a convincing 41-16 win over FIU on Wednesday. The Oxford, Alabama, native recorded six tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss (-12 yards), 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and return for seven yards, and one quarterback hurry in the win for the Gamecocks.
Flabiano kicked the game-winning field goal during UTEP’s come-from-behind 37-34 victory over Sam Houston on Oct. 25. The redshirt freshman hit a career-high three field goals that included a career-long make of 43 yards with no time remaining in the first half to get UTEP within eight points (21-13). Flabiano was a perfect 3-3 on field goals and was 4-4 on PATs, scoring a career-high 13 points. Flabiano also kicked off seven times for 413 yards with four touchbacks.
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
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
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
-ConferenceUSA.com-
