After rushing for a career-high 211 yards and a touchdown to lead North Texas to a 46-43 victory over UAB, North Texas senior RB Jeffery Wilson has been named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week.  The Defensive Player of the Week is being shared by a pair of standouts that scored touchdowns off turnovers to lead their teams to victories in UTSA sophomore LB Josiah Tauaefa and WKU senior DB Joe Brown.  Special Teams Player of the Week honors went to North Texas senior K Trevor Moore, who had four field goals, including the game-winner with seven seconds remaining vs. UAB.  C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.

Sept 25 POW Release
 
Wilson had the best statistical game of his career this week, posting a career-high 211 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown in the Mean Green’s win over UAB in the C-USA opener.  The Elkhart, Texas, native averaged 8.1 yards per carry and has now scored at least one rushing touchdown in his last five games, dating back to last season’s Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl.  Wilson busted off a monster 34-yard run with just 17 seconds left to set up Trevor Moore’s game-winning field goal.  Saturday’s performance marked Wilson’s first career 200-plus yard game, surpassing his previous career-high total of 188, set last season in a win over Marshall.  Wilson moved into fifth all-time on the Mean Green rushing list with 2,508 rushing yards and his 22 career rushing touchdowns rank sixth in school history.  This is Wilson’s second Offensive Player of the Week award in four weeks this season.
 
Tauaefa posted five tackles, one quarterback hurry, one pass breakup and a fumble return for a touchdown to help lead UTSA to a convincing 44-14 victory at Texas State on Saturday night.  The Corinth, Texas, native scooped up a fumble and returned it 22 yards for the first TD of the night, marking UTSA’s first fumble recovery for a score since the 2013 season.  He helped guide a defense that held Texas State to just 198 yards of offense, the fifth consecutive opponent that has been limited to less than 300 yards and the second straight that has failed to manage even 200 yards.  The Roadrunners, who rank second in the FBS in total defense (207.0 ypg), tied a school-record with 11 tackles for loss and also registered seven pass breakups and three QB hurries. UTSA held the Bobcats to just 45 total yards in pitching a second-half shutout.
 
Brown had an interception that he returned 34 yards for a touchdown, a quarterback hurry and three tackles in the win over Ball State.  He picked off Ball State's Jack Milas in the 4th quarter and returned it 34 yards for a TD to ice the game and end a potential game-winning drive by the Cardinals.  It was Brown’s fourth career interception and first career touchdown.  The native of Louisville, Kentucky, picked off a pass for the second straight week and it ties him for the C-USA lead with two on the season.
 
Moore had yet another strong night Saturday for the Mean Green in their 46-43 win over UAB in the conference opener.  He converted all four of his field goal attempts, from 22, 29, 40 and 45 yards out, including the game-winner with seven seconds remaining.  Moore also converted all four of his extra point attempts, and has made all 116 of his career PATs.  The Edmond, Oklahoma, native is just five shy of Nick Bazuldua’s school record for most made extra points (121).  His 116 consecutive makes are fourth-most among active FBS kickers.  Additionally, Moore recorded five touchbacks on kickoffs, averaging 63.5 yards per kickoff on 10 attempts and he recovered a fumble.
 
2017 WINNERS:
Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 4 – Jeffery Wilson, RB, North Texas; Sept. 11 – Tyre Brady, WR, Marshall and Brent Stockstill, QB, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 18 – Ito Smith, RB, Southern Miss; Sept. 25 – Jeffery Wilson, RB, North Texas.
Defensive Player of the Week – Sept. 4 – Dae’Von Washington, LB, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 11 – Khalil Brooks, LB, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 18 – Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 25 – Josiah Tauaefa, LB, UTSA and Joe Brown, DB, WKU.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Sept. 4 – Keion Davis, KR, Marshall; Sept. 11 – Kaare Vedvik, K/P, Marshall; Sept. 18 – Jonathan Barnes, K, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 25 – Trevor Moore, K, North Texas.