DALLAS – Conference USA announced Monday its weekly award winners for week three. The weekly awards are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Offensive Player of the Week – Kejon Owens, FIU – R-Sr. – RB – Miami, Fla.
Owens rushed for a career-high 173 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries in the Panthers’ (2-1) 38-28 Shula Bowl victory over Florida Atlantic – its first in the series since 2016. The 2025 Shula Bowl MVP averaged 9.1 yards per carry with a long of 47 yards, FIU's longest play from scrimmage this season. Owens rattled off three 20+ yard rushes, adding carries of 22 and 21 yards, and hauled in three catches for 19 yards, totaling 192 all-purpose yards.
Defensive Player of the Week – Juwon Gaston, MTSU – R-Sr. – S – Montgomery, Ala.
Gaston made his presence felt in the win over Nevada, recording the first two interceptions of his career to key the comeback win over the Wolf Pack. His first pick was in the end zone to stop a Nevada scoring drive and the second came in the fourth quarter that led to the Blue Raiders’ (1-2) first touchdown of the game. Gaston is the first Blue Raider to have multiple interceptions in a game since Decorian Patterson against FIU on Nov. 26, 2022.
Special Teams Player of the Week – John Hoyet Chance, LA Tech – R-Fr. – K/P – Shreveport, La.
Chance becomes the season’s first repeat winner of Special Teams Player of the Week after he continued his strong start to the season Saturday, connecting on a 55-yard field goal for LA Tech's first score of the game in a 49-14 thumping of NM State. The kick tied for the third-longest in program history. Chance also punted four times for an average of 46.5 yards per punt. He had two 50+ yard punts while landing one inside the 20-yard line.
Freshman of the Week – Shamir Sterlin, FIU – R-Fr. – DB – Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Sterlin tied for a team-high seven tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss in the win over FAU. On the Owls’ first drive of the game, he made a diving interception on third down inside FIU territory. Sterlin was part of an FIU defense that did not surrender a touchdown in the second half of the 38-28 victory, while the secondary helped force three interceptions and four pass breakups on the night.
Offensive Lineman of the Week – Steven Demboski, Delaware – Sr. – OL – Hillsdale, N.J.
Demboski made his season debut in the Blue Hens’ (2-1) 44-41 overtime win over UConn after missing the first two games due to injury. The senior captain stepped in right where he left off a season ago and was the starting center, not missing a snap on offense. Under his leadership, the Delaware rushing attack had its best game on the ground, accounting for five rushing touchdowns and 247 rushing yards for an average of 5.5 yards per attempt.
2025 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Players of the Week
A25 Maverick McIvor, WKU
S1 Maverick McIvor, WKU
S8 Cam Cook, Jax State
S15 Kejon Owens, FIU
Defensive Players of the Week
A25 Jaylen Lewis, WKU
S1 Mekhi Mason, LA Tech
S8 Kanye Young, Missouri State
S15 Juwon Gaston, MTSU
Special Teams Players of the Week
A25 Cole Maynard, WKU
S1 John Hoyet Chance, LA Tech
S8 Garrison Rippa, Jax State
S15 John Hoyet Chance, LA Tech
Freshmen of the Week
A25 Marvis Parrish, WKU
S1 Caden Williams, Liberty
S8 Jeron Askren, Missouri State
S15 Shamir Sterlin, FIU
Offensive Linemen of the Week
A25 Laurence Seymore, WKU
S1 Fintan Brose, Delaware
S8 Bubba Grayson, Jax State
S15 Steven Demboski, Delaware