DALLAS – After hauling in nine catches for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Panthers’ win over Maine, FIU WR Kris Mitchell was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week. WKU LB JaQues Evans took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a standout performance with seven tackles, a sack, forced fumble and fumble return touchdown in the Hilltoppers’ win over South Florida on Saturday. Evans’ teammate, K Lucas Carneiro was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after connecting on a pair of field goals and going a perfect 5-5 on extra points in WKU’s season-opening victory. 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.
Mitchell finished with 201 yards on nine receptions in FIU’s win over Maine, which tied for the most receiving yards in a single game in FIU program history (Tyrese Chambers did so against Charlotte on 10/8/21 and T.Y. Hilton did so at Louisville on 9/9/11). Mitchell’s 62-yard touchdown catch against Maine was the longest of his career, and his two scoring grabs tied a single-game career best mark. The Jacksonville, Florida, native’s nine catches were the most he has had in a single game thus far in his career.
Evans helped the Hilltoppers close out a 41-24 win season-opening win over South Florida on Saturday by stripping the USF quarterback, recovering the ball and returning it 27 yards for a touchdown. The Conference USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year finished with seven tackles – which was tied for the game high – and also had a sack and pass breakup. WKU held USF to just 10 points over the final three quarters, including a single touchdown in the second half.
In his first game at the college level, Carneiro, a redshirt freshman, made both field goals he attempted and was a perfect 5-5 on extra points. His field goals were from 41 and 42 yards, respectively, and helped the Hilltoppers overcome an early double-digit deficit in Saturday’s 41-24 season-opening win over South Florida.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week – Aug. 28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech, Sept. 4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
Defensive Player of the Week – Aug. 28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State, Sept. 4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
Special Teams Player of the Week – Aug. 28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State, Sept. 4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
-ConferenceUSA.com-
