DALLAS – Following a historic win over Liberty, Kennesaw State’s
Davis Bryson,
Tyler Hallum and
Austin Welch swept the CUSA Player of the Week honors for week nine. The weekly awards are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Offensive Player of the Week – Davis Bryson, KSU – RS So. – QB – Woodbridge, Va.
Bryson turned in a career performance, finishing 16-20 for 189 yards and a touchdown to lead the Owls (1-6, 1-2 CUSA) to their first FBS win – a 27-24 upset of previously unbeaten Liberty. He connected on a 41-yard touchdown strike to Christian Moss to open the scoring, as part of starting the game a perfect 8-8. Bryson finished with the third-highest passer grade in the country for Week 9 (92.5), according to
Pro Football Focus, finishing only behind Taylen Green (Arkansas) and Max Brosmer (Minnesota). Bryson’s offensive grade also topped CUSA and ranked eighth nationally at 90.1.
Defensive Player of the Week – Tyler Hallum, KSU – RS Jr. – DB – Marietta, Ga.
Hallum provided lockdown coverage in Kennesaw State’s win over Liberty. He finished with six tackles and a career-best three pass breakups, including a drive-killing, acrobatic interception in the second quarter – the first of his career. The play was the No. 10 play on SportsCenter. Of the nine times Hallum’s receiver was targeted, only three receptions were made, tying for a league-best 33.3% reception rate among cornerbacks in Conference USA. Overall, he helped KSU hold Liberty to just 180 rushing yards – its lowest rushing output since facing Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl earlier this year and second-lowest total in the last two years.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Austin Welch, KSU – RS Jr. – K – Georgetown, Ky.
Welch tallied nine points with a pair of field goals and three extra points in the Owls’ win over Liberty. He connected on 31- and 41-yard field goals in the fourth quarter to make it a two-score game and keep the Flames at bay. With a late fourth-quarter score by Liberty, Welch’s 41-yard field goal proved to be the game-winner for the Owls. The two field goals kept him perfect on the year (11-11), making him one of just four kickers in FBS with a 1.000 field goal percentage on more than 11 kicks. Welch also filled in on kickoff duty due to injury, booming six kicks for three touchbacks in addition to his place-kicking duties.
2024 Winners
Offensive Players of the Week
S2 Hunter Watson, Sam Houston
S9 Keyone Jenkins, FIU
S16 Caden Veltkamp, WKU
S23 Reese Smith, Liberty
S30 Hunter Watson, Sam Houston
O7 Tyler Huff, Jax State
O14 Evan Bullock, LA Tech
O21 Caden Veltkamp, WKU
O28 Davis Bryson, Kennesaw State
Defensive Players of the Week
S2 Tayden Barnes, NM State
S9 CJ Bazile Jr., Liberty
S16 Caleb Weaver, Sam Houston
S23 Devonte’ Mathews, WKU
S30 Travion Barnes, FIU
O7 Zechariah Poyser, Jax State
O14 Travion Barnes, FIU
O21 Kale Edwards, NM State
O28 Tyler Hallum, Kennesaw State
Special Teams Players of the Week
S2 Christian Pavon, Sam Houston
S9 Colin Karhu, Liberty
S16 Buck Buchanan, LA Tech
S23 Cole Maynard, WKU
S30 Christian Pavon, Sam Houston
O7 Jadon Cardell, Sam Houston
O14 Lucas Carneiro, WKU
O21 Omari Kelly, MTSU
O28 Austin Welch, Kennesaw State