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