DALLAS – After another standout performance for the undefeated and
AP No. 25 Flames in their win over Old Dominion, Liberty
QB Kaidon Salter was voted CUSA Offensive Player of the Week for a league-high fourth time this season. Sam Houston
LB Kavian Gaither took home Defensive Player of the Week honors following a 12-tackle performance with an interception that he returned for a touchdown in the Bearkats’ first league win as members of CUSA, over LA Tech. New Mexico State
K Ethan Albertson was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season, after a perfect 6-6 day on extra points and field goals on Saturday afternoon in a key road win at WKU. The 2023 CUSA Players of the Week awards are presented by
Blenders Eyewear and are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Salter accounted for all five Liberty touchdowns in the 38-10 win Saturday afternoon over Old Dominion and finished the game with three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in the win. It marked Salter’s third game in a row with three or more passing touchdowns and third game this season with two rushing touchdowns. The Texas native completed 13-22 passing attempts for 225 yards to go along with those three scores. It was his fifth game this season with 225 or more passing yards and seventh with 10 or more rushing attempts (11).
Gaither turned in a huge game on the road for Sam Houston in helping the Bearkats snag their first win in CUSA play. The linebacker from Waco led the Kats with 12 tackles and forced a fumble before sealing the game late in the fourth quarter when he plucked a pass from LA Tech quarterback Hank Bachmeier out of the air and raced 45 yards down the sideline for a pick-six that sealed the game in SHSU's favor. The 12 tackles tied his career high and the pick-six was the first of his collegiate career and the first for the Kats since early in the 2021 season.
Albertson finished the weekend a perfect 6-6 on field goal and PATs combined, including going a 5-5 on PATs. The San Diego native knocked through a 40-yarder to score the Aggies' first points of the game in their 38-29 win over WKU on the road to clinch a spot in the 2023 CUSA Championship Game.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week
A28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
S4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
S11 – RB Kejon Owens, FIU
S18 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
S25 - QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
O2 – QB Logan Smothers, Jax State
O9 – WR Malachi Corley, WKU
O16 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
O23 – QB Zion Webb, Jax State
O30 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
N6 – RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
N13 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
Defensive Player of the Week
A28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
S4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
S11 – LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
S18 – LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
S25 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O2 – LB Bryson Washington, WKU
O9 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O16 – DL Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
O23 – LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
O30 – DL J-Rock Swain, Jax State
N6 – DB Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
N13 – LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
Special Teams Player of the Week
A28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
S4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
S11 – K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
S18 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
S25 - P Jack Dawson, Jax State
O2 – PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
O9 – P Max Morgan, Liberty
O16 – P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
O23 – K Alen Karajic, Jax State
O30 – K Buzz Flabiano, UTEP
N6 – K Colby Sessums, Sam Houston
N13 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State