DALLAS – After carrying 10 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns, including what proved to be the game-winner, FIU RB Kejon Owens was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week. UTEP LB Tyrice Knight took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a standout performance with 14 tackles, a half sack and 1.5 tackles for loss on Saturday at Northwestern. Louisiana Tech K Jacob Barnes was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on three field goals and going a perfect 6-6 on extra points in LA Tech’s win over Northwestern 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.
Owens posted a career-high 101 yards on 10 touches for an average of 10.1 per carry in FIU’s win over North Texas on Saturday. His three touchdowns tied the mark for the most ever by a FIU sophomore. The Miami native’s 47-yard touchdown run at 4:37 of the third quarter was the longest rush of his career, and his three rushing touchdowns tied for the second-highest single game total in FIU annals and marked the 12th time it has been accomplished. The Panthers were dominant on the ground in the win over North Texas as they rushed for a total 223 yards (most since 2020) and scored four rushing touchdowns.
Knight racked up another 14 tackles, a half sack and 1.5 tackles for loss at Northwestern on Saturday for the Miners. He leads CUSA with 43 tackles, 14.3 tackles per game and 28 solo stops. The Lakeland, Florida, native also leads the FBS in tackles and ranks second in tackles per game. For Knight, it marks his third consecutive double-digit tackle performance to start the 2023 season. Career-wise, Knight now has 15 career double-digit performances.
Barnes connected on field goals of 22, 32 and 36 yards, while also making all six extra points during the Bulldogs’ 51-21 win over Northwestern State on Saturday, marking the sixth time in his career that he has made at least three field goals in a single game. He now ranks seventh in program history with 48 field goals made during his career.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week
A28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
S4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
S11 – RB Kejon Owens
Defensive Player of the Week
A28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
S4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
S11 – LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
Special Teams Player of the Week
A28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
S4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
S11 – K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
-ConferenceUSA.com-
