DALLAS – FIU’s
Keyone Jenkins, UTEP’s
Bryton Thompson and WKU’s
Lucas Carneiro earned the final CUSA Player of the Week honors of the 2024 season. The weekly awards are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Offensive Player of the Week – Keyone Jenkins, FIU – Sophomore – QB – Miami, Fla.
Jenkins was extremely effective in a 35-24 victory over MTSU in the Panthers’ (4-8, 3-5 CUSA) season finale, finishing 19-27 for 319 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He recorded 232 of his 319 yards through the air in the first half to help FIU open a 28-7 lead on the Blue Raiders. It marked the second time in three weeks and the fourth time this season that Jenkins has eclipsed 300 yards passing. His three touchdown passes gave him 22 on the season, which finished tied for the second-highest single-season total in program history.
Defensive Player of the Week – Bryton Thompson, UTEP – RS Senior – DE – Houston, Texas
Thompson had a big day on the defensive side of the ball, scoring two touchdowns on a pair of fumble recoveries during UTEP’s come-from-behind 42-35 victory at rival NM State in the 101st Battle of I-10 on Saturday. His first score came on a 33-yard scoop-and-score to put the Miners up 7-0 early in the ball game. Thompson’s second TD came on a five-yard dash to the house, putting UTEP ahead 42-24 with 13:12 left in the contest. Thompson is the only Miner to score two defensive touchdowns in a game in the modern era.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Lucas Carneiro, WKU – RS Soph. – K – Cornelius, N.C.
Carneiro converted all four field goals he attempted in WKU’s 19-17 win over Jax State on Saturday, including a 50-yard attempt with 3 seconds left to send the Hilltoppers to the CUSA Championship Game. It was one of two 50-yard makes for Carneiro on the day, and he also had makes of 21 and 35 yards. Carneiro is now 5-5 on attempts from 50-plus yards this season and 15-16 overall. He is 39-39 on PATs. With Carneiro’s first made field goal on Saturday, he set a new program record for consecutive field goals made with his 12th straight. His streak is now at 15 consecutive field goals.
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
N4 Eric Rivers, FIU / Tre Stewart, Jax State
N11 Skyler Locklear, UTEP
N18 Quinton Cooley, Liberty
N25 Tyler Huff, Jax State
D2 Keyone Jenkins, FIU
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
N4 Geimere Latimer, Jax State
N11 Kory Chapman, UTEP
N18 Joseph Carter, Liberty
N25 Dylan Early, NM State
D2 Bryton Thompson, UTEP
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
N4 Abraham Montano, NM State
N11 Lucas Carneiro, WKU
N18 Buck Buchanan, LA Tech
N25 Austin Welch, Kennesaw State
D2 Lucas Carneiro, WKU