After throwing for more yards than FBS player the opening weekend of the season and entering school and conference record books in his first start, WKU junior QB Mike White has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week.  The Defensive Player of the Week honor went to Louisiana Tech senior S Xavier Woods, who had an interception and a career-high for tackles in a one-point loss at Arkansas.  The Special Teams Player of the Week award was given to Southern Miss sophomore K Parker Shaunfield, who had 14 points in the Golden Eagles’ 44-35 win at Kentucky .  C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.

White, the nation’s leading passer, posted the best debut by a quarterback in WKU history, throwing for 517 yards on 25-of-31 passing with three touchdowns in a win against Conference USA foe Rice.  White’s 517 yards are the third-most in program history, tied for 10th-most in C-USA history, and according to ESPN Stats and Info, his 98.3 QBR was the highest QBR by an FBS quarterback in Week 1 in the past 10 years.  Since 2000, only seven quarterbacks have thrown for 500 yards with an 80-percent completion percentage or better – a group White joined on Sept. 1.  The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native’s 16.68 yards per pass attempt are also the best in the FBS.
 
Woods tied his career high with 10 tackles in the Bulldogs’ season opener at Arkansas Saturday, while the senior safety also came up with his 10th career interception to stall the Razorbacks first offensive drive of the game.  The West Monroe, Louisiana native is now tied for eighth in program history in career INT’s, becoming only the 11th Bulldog to ever have double-digit interceptions in their career. Woods led a LA Tech defensive unit that held the Razorbacks to 297 yards of total offense (-4 yards alone in the third quarter).  Only Alabama was able to hold Arkansas to under 300 total yards last season.  He also registered one sack for a loss of six yards in the game.  Woods’ interception was one of two by the Bulldog defense on the afternoon, which marks the first time an opponent had picked off Arkansas more than once in a single game since Oct. 18, 2014.
 
Shaunfield led the Golden Eagles with 14 points in the 44-35 win at Kentucky by hitting five extra points while also converting all three field goal opportunities.  The Aledo, Texas native hit field goals of 25, 31 and 49 yards, with the 49-yarder being a career best.  It was the longest made field goal for the Golden Eagles since Corey Acosta belted a 52-yarder against Rice (9/27/14).
 
2016 WINNERS:
Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Mike White, QB, WKU.
Defensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Parker Shaunfield, K, Southern Miss.