OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zac Thomas, Appalachian State (Redshirt Junior, QB, Trussville, Ala.)
Appalachian State redshirt junior quarterback Zac Thomas returned to his home state and produced a career night in leading App State to a 48-13 win at Troy in both teams’ regular-season finale. Thomas set or tied career highs with 326 passing yards, 28 completions (28 of 34), four touchdown passes and five total TDs (one rushing). Rarely misfiring all night, Thomas and the Mountaineers scored on passes of 44, 8, 6 and 25 yards to go with his 5-yard TD run. No other Sun Belt player accounted for five touchdowns this weekend. Thomas and App State finished off the best regular-season overall record (11-1) and road record (6-0) in Sun Belt history.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana (Senior, LB, New Orleans, La.)
Louisiana senior middle linebacker Jacques Boudreaux shined in his final game at Cajun Field, posting 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks and leveling a ULM wide receiver to force a key pass breakup in the fourth quarter which the Warhawks from moving the ball down field. Boudreaux also notched his fifth double-digit tackle game of the season, becoming the first player to accomplish the feat since Justin Anderson in 2013.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Blake Grupe, Arkansas State (Sophomore, K, Sedalis, Mo.)
Arkansas State sophomore kicker Blake Grupe tied his career high with three field goals made, was a perfect 3-of-3 on extra points and scored 12 points during Arkansas State’s road game at South Alabama. The Sedalia, Mo., native made all three of his attempts covering 40, 23 and 20 yards. His 12 points were only one shy of his career-high 13 and made him just the second Arkansas State player to ever post 100 points in a season. Not only did he take over second place for most points by kicking in a season at A-State, he increased his field goals made total to 17 to tie the third most in school history. He has now made 43 consecutive extra points to tie the fourth longest streak in A-State history. His career numbers increased to move him into sixth and seventh place at Arkansas State for points by kicking and field goals made, respectively.
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 2: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
September 9: Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
September 16: Kaleb Barker, Troy
September 23: Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
September 30: Omar Bayless, Arkansas State
October 7: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
October 14: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
October 21: Raymond Calais, Louisiana
October 28: Tra Barnett, Georgia State
November 4: Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern
November 11: Caleb Evans, ULM
November 18: Kaleb Barker, Troy
November 25: Caleb Evans, ULM
December 2: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
Defensive Player
September 2: Carlton Martial, Troy
September 9: Chandler Kryst, Coastal Carolina
September 16: Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern
September 23: Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
September 30: Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana
October 7: Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern
October 14: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
October 21: Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Georgia State
October 28: Nathan Page, Arkansas State
November 4: Darreon Jackson, Arkansas State
November 11: Marcus Webb, Troy
November 18: Shaun Jolly, Appalachian State
November 25: Cortez Sisco Jr., ULM
December 2: Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana
Special Teams Player
September 2: Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
September 9: Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern
September 16: Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern
September 23: Joshua Rowland, Texas State
September 30: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 7: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 14: Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
October 21: Tyler Sumpter, Troy
October 28: Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern
November 4: Blake Grupe, Arkansas State
November 11: Hutch White, Texas State
November 18: Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern
November 25: Stevie Artigue, Louisiana
December 2: Blake Grupe, Arkansas State