A pair of amazing performances are recognized as Middle Tennessee junior WR Richie James and UTEP junior RB Aaron Jones share Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors.  James had 403 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, while Jones had 301 rushing yards and four scores.  The Defensive Player of the Week honor went to Southern Miss junior DB Picasso Nelson, Jr., who had two interceptions and nine tackles in a victory over Louisiana Tech that made the Golden Eagles bowl-eligible.  The Special Teams Player of the Week award was given to WKU junior KR Kylen Towner, who began the Hilltoppers division-clinching win at Marshall with a 93-yard touchdown return on the opening kickoff.  C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
 
Nov 28 POW Release

Forced to play quarterback after starter John Urzua was injured during the second series of the game, James turned in an amazing individual performance as Middle Tennessee set a school record and tied the conference mark with 77 points scored.  James became just the sixth player in NCAA (FBS) history to rush for 200-plus yards and also have 100-plus yards receiving in one game, and he is the first receiver to accomplish the feat.  James had 403 total offensive yards and four touchdowns.  He rushed for 207 yards and 3 scores, and had 120 yards receiving and a TD.  The Sarasota, Florida, native also had 76 yards passing.  With his performance, James broke the MT single-season receiving record (1,463 yards).  His 327 all-purpose yards are also second-most in school history and most ever by a receiver.
 
Jones led the Miners to a 52-24 victory over the Mean Green on Saturday.  The El Paso native ran for a career-best 301 yards, which rates fourth nationally and first in Conference USA this season.  Jones is the eighth player in league history to go over 300 yards and his 301 yards matches East Carolina’s Chris Johnson [301 yards in 2007] for the sixth-best single-game performance in C-USA history. The junior had a career-high four touchdowns, including a season-long 83-yard score in the first quarter.  Jones finished the season with the single-season school-record 1,773 rushing yards. That is the fifth-best single-season performance in C-USA history and puts him in the No. 3 spot nationally. 
 
Nelson tallied a career-best nine tackles (six solos) to go along with a pair of interceptions in the Golden Eagles win over Louisiana Tech that made Southern Miss bowl-eligible.  It marked his first two interceptions of the year as well as his first career two-interception game. Both of the Mendenhall, Mississippi, native’s picks came in the fourth quarter as Southern Miss fought back a late charge from the Bulldogs.  Nelson also helped the Golden Eagles defense limit Louisiana Tech to just eight yards rushing and 246 yards passing – a team which was averaging 357.3 passing yards heading into the weekend.  Nelson was the second Golden Eagle to register two interceptions in a game this season.
 
Towner provided early fireworks for WKU in the team's 60-6 victory at Marshall, returning the opening kickoff 93 yards for his second special teams score of the season.  It was WKU's first touchdown on an opening kickoff since moving to the FBS level in 2009.  The Mobile, Alabama, native also added a career-long 32-yard punt return later in the first quarter, which led to a 25-yard Hilltoppers' touchdown pass on the next play.  Towner tops the nation with a 36.7-yard kick return average, as he leads the country with eight of his 23 total returns going for 40+ yards.
 
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; Oct. 31 – Brent Stockstill, QB, Middle Tennessee; Nov. 7 – Devin Singletary, , Florida Atlantic and Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech; Nov. 14 – Taywan Taylor, WR, WKU; Nov. 21 – David Washington, QB, Old Dominion; Nov. 28 – Richie James, WR, Middle Tennessee and Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP.
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; Oct. 31 – D.J. Sanders, LB, Middle Tennessee; Nov. 7 – Terrance Winchester, CB, Charlotte; Nov. 14 – TJ Ricks, LB, Old Dominion; Nov. 21 – Nate Brooks, DB, North Texas; Nov. 28 – Picasso Nelson, Jr., , DB, Southern Miss.
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; Oct. 31 – Kaare Vedvik, P, Marshall; Nov. 7 - Juwan Foggie, WR, Charlotte; Nov. 14 – Carlos Henderson, KR, Louisiana Tech; Nov. 21 – Trevor Moore, K, North Texas; Nov. 28 – Kylen Towner, KR, WKU.