After generating 263 yards of total offense, scoring a pair of touchdowns and setting career highs in rushing yards and receptions in a win at Missouri, Middle Tennessee senior RB
I’Tavious Mathers is the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week. The Defensive Player of the Week honor went to North Texas junior CB
Eric Jenkins, who had two interceptions (one for a touchdown), two more pass breakups and a forced fumble in a win at Army. The Special Teams Player of the Week award was given to Middle Tennessee junior K
Canon Rooker, who had three field goals and scored 15 points in the victory at Missouri. C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Oct 24 POW Release
Mathers continued his recent assault on opposing defenses with a career-best performance to help lead Middle Tennessee to a 51-45 road win at Missouri. Mathers rushed for a career-high 215 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run. It marked the fifth consecutive game of 100-plus yard rushing for Mathers. He compiled 263 all-purpose yards, helped by a career-high eight receptions for 48 yards and another TD. This is the third time this season that the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native has been named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week.
Jenkins made plays all over the field on Saturday for the Mean Green in their 35-18 win at Army, posting a pair of interceptions, one of which was brought back for a touchdown, breaking up two more passes and also forcing a fumble. The Mean Green recorded seven turnovers in the win, and Jenkins was part of three of them. He also had another would-be forced fumble and subsequent recovery overturned on an official review. Jenkins took advantage of an overthrow by Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, which marked his second pick six in his last two quarters after doing the same in the fourth quarter vs. Marshall on Oct. 8. The LA Valley College transfer forced a fumble early in the fourth quarter that was recovered by North Texas and then Jenkins then made a highlight-reel diving interception off of a tip in the end zone on the next Army possession.
Rooker came up big in Middle Tennessee’s six-point win at Missouri. His 15 points kicking tied for second-most on the single-game list at Middle Tennessee. Rooker had three field goals, successfully converting kicks of 39-, 28-, and 21-yards. The Richmond Hill, Georgia, native was also 6-for-6 on extra point tries.
2016 WINNERS:
Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Mike White, QB, WKU; Sept. 12 – Trent Taylor, WR, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 19 – I’Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 26 - I’Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee; Oct. 3 – Allenzae Staggers, KR, Southern Miss; Oct. 10 – Hasaan Klugh, QB, Charlotte and Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech; Oct. 17 - Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech; Oct. 24 – I’Tavious Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee.
Defensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 12 – Anthony Wilson, LB, Old Dominion; Sept. 19 – Shaquille Huff, DT, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 26 – Kishawn McClain, S, North Texas; Oct. 3 – Anthony Wint, LB, FIU; Oct. 10 – Josiah Tauaefa, LB, UTSA; Oct. 17 - Anthony Wint, LB, FIU; Oct. 24 –Eric Jenkins, CB, North Texas.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Parker Shaunfield, K, Southern Miss; Sept. 12 – Allenzae Staggers, KR, Southern Miss; Sept. 19 – Nacarius Fant, KR/PR, WKU; Sept. 26 – Tyler Wilson, KR, North Texas; Oct. 3 – Nacarius Fant, KR/PR, WKU; Oct. 10 – Jonathan Barnes, K, Louisiana Tech; Oct. 17 – Skyler Simcox, K, WKU; Oct. 24 – Canon Rooker, K, Middle Tennessee.