DALLAS – After throwing for 331 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for another score to tie his career-high with four total TD’s in his final home game, Louisiana Tech senior QB
J’Mar Smith has been named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. The Defensive Player of the Week honor went to Charlotte senior DE
Alex Highsmith, who had a school-record 4.5 sacks, 5.0 tackles for loss and a career-high 12 total tackles in the 49ers seventh victory of the season, at Old Dominion. The Special Teams Player of the Week award was given to Marshall junior P
Robert LeFevre, who averaged 45.4 yards per punt, while pinning four of his five attempts inside the 20-yard line in an overtime win over FIU. C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media. All C-USA weekly awards are presented by Top of the World Headwear.
Dec 2 2019 FB POW Release.(pdf)
Smith had a stellar showing in his final home game on Saturday, completing 25-of-35 pass attempts for 331 yards along with three touchdowns and no interceptions in Louisiana Tech’s 41-27 win over UTSA. Smith also rushed for a touchdown, tying his career-high with four total TD’s on the day. Smith’s 300-yard day through the air was then 11th of his career – placing him in sole possession of third place in the LA Tech record books. His passer efficiency rating of 149.7 is second-best in C-USA this season. Against the Roadrunners, the Meridian, Mississippi, native completed passes to eight different receivers. Smith has now thrown for 17 touchdowns and just four interceptions on the season. He is second in the league in total offense (304.4) and leads C-USA in passing yards per game (281.4). Smith’s performance helped the Bulldogs finish off a 6-0 campaign at home – it’s first 6-0 home mark since 1973.
Charlotte's undisputed sack king had a career-game in Charlotte's fifth straight win, a 38-22 road victory at Old Dominion. Highsmith had a school-record 4.5 sacks, a school-record 5.0 tackles for loss and a career-best 12 total tackles. His big game on Saturday landed him second in the FBS in sacks on the season with a school-record 14.0 and fourth in the nation in TFL’s with a school-record 21.5. Causing havoc in the backfield, Highsmith added a QB hurry, a pass break up by swatting a pass attempt at the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble. The Wilmington, North Carolina, native now owns the 49ers school-records for sacks in a game, season and career.
LeFevre punted five times for 227 yards and a 45.4-yard average, with four kicks dropped inside the 20-yard line vs. FIU. Three of the Hilliard, Ohio native's boots went for 50 or more yards as well. For the season, he has kicked 61 times with 23 kicks that have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
2019 WINNERS:
Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 2 – Jason Pirtle, TE, North Texas; Sept. 9 – Tyler Johnston III, QB, UAB; Sept. 16 – Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss; Sept. 23 – Deangelo Antoine, WR, Florida Atlantic; Sept. 30 – Jack Abraham, QB, Southern Miss; Oct. 7 – Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA; Oct. 14 – Jack Abraham, QB, Southern Miss; Oct. 21 – Brenden Knox, RB, Marshall; Oct. 28 – Chris Reynolds, QB, Charlotte; Nov. 4 – Mason Fine, QB, North Texas; Nov. 11 – Ty Storey, QB, WKU; Nov. 18 – Brad Rozner, WR, Rice; Nov. 25 – Victor Tucker, WR, Charlotte; Dec. 2 – J’Mar Smith, QB, Louisiana Tech.
Defensive Player of the Week – Sept. 2 –Garrett Marino, DL, UAB; Sept. 9 – Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 16 – Rashad Smith, LB, Florida Atlantic; Sept. 23 – Keion White, DE, Old Dominion; Sept. 30 – Kyle Bailey, LB, WKU; Oct. 7 – Jovante Moffatt, S, Middle Tennessee; Oct. 14 – Darius Hodge, DL, Marshall; Oct. 21 – Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech; Oct. 28 – Kearon Merrell, CB, Marshall; Nov. 4 – Akileis Leroy, LB, Florida Atlantic; Nov. 11 – Devon Key, S, WKU; Nov. 18 – Tavante Beckett, LB, Marshall; Nov. 25 – Deangelo Malone, DE, WKU; Dec. 2 – Alex Highsmith, DE, Charlotte.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Sept. 2 – Jaylond Adams, KR/PR, Southern Miss; Sept. 9 – Cory Munson, K, WKU; Sept. 16 – Jaylond Adams, KR/PR, Southern Miss; Sept. 23 – Bailey Hale, K, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 30 – Cory Munson, K, WKU; Oct. 7 – Maurice Alexander, PR, FIU; Oct. 14 – Nick Vogel, K, UAB; Oct. 21 – Ethan Mooney, K, North Texas; Oct. 28 – Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall; Nov. 4 – Duron Lowe, KR, UTEP; Nov. 11 – Andrew Stein, K, Southern Miss; Nov. 18 – Zac Everett, P, Southern Miss; Nov. 25 – Jose Borregales, K, FIU; Dec. 2 – Robert LeFevre, P, Marshall.