OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Omar Bayless, Arkansas State (RSr., WR, Laurel, Miss.)
Redshirt senior wide receiver Omar Bayless became the fourth player in Arkansas State history to record over 200 receiving yards in a game by posting 10 receptions for a career-high 213 yards and a touchdown during the Red Wolves’ 50-43 road victory over Troy. He finished with the third most receiving yards in school history and the seventh most in the nation this season, while also tying the fifth-most ever by a Sun Belt Conference player. A-State’s first offensive player of the game saw Bayless come up with a 92-yard touchdown catch, which was the second longest reception in school history, third longest in the nation this season and tied the fourth longest ever by a Sun Belt player. His 10 receptions tied his career high, and he is now ranked ninth in the nation in receptions with 7.2 per game. Bayless came up with his seventh touchdown of the season, giving him 16 for his career to tie the most in school history. He posted over 100 receiving yards for the fourth time in five games this year and leads the nation with 137.8 yards per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana (Sr., LB, New Orleans, La.)
Louisiana senior linebacker Jacques Boudreaux continued to be a leader for the Ragin' Cajuns' defense, notching a career-high 12 tackles in Louisiana's victory over Georgia Southern. Of the 12 tackles, seven came in the first half. His previous career high for tackles was 11, which he set a season ago against ULM. Boudreaux recorded his first tackle for loss of the year against the Eagles, producing a three-yard loss.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cody Grace, Arkansas State (Sr., P, Perth, Western Australia)
Senior punter Cody Grace not only averaged 49.4 yards per punt with three of his five attempts pinning Troy inside its own 20-yard line, he completed a 15-yard pass to junior receiver Brandon Bowling in the third quarter to convert a momentum-changing fake punt in Arkansas State’s 50-43 road victory over Troy. Following a Troy field goal that gave the Trojans their first lead of the game at 34-31, the Red Wolves ensuing drive stalled at their own 44-yard line before Grace extended the drive on a key fourth-down play. The Red Wolves found the end zone just two plays later with 7:50 remaining in the third quarter, reclaiming a lead it would not relinquish for the remainder of the outing. Grace punted five times with a long of 58 yards, and his 49.4 average per attempt nearly matched his career high of 50.0 recorded just the week prior. The Perth, Western Australia, native has now recorded at multiple punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in 22 of 29 career games.
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
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
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