NEW ORLEANS – Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease, Old Dominion’s Tre Hawkins and Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares claim conference’s weekly accolades following key conference victories.
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern
(6th Yr., QB – Stow, Ohio)
Eagles sixth-year quarterback Kyle Vantrease connected with a laid-out Derwin Burgess Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown strike with 1:10 remaining to lead Georgia Southern to a 45-38 victory over previously unbeaten No. 25 James Madison. The Stow, Ohio, native finished the shootout—which featured 1,265 yards of total offense—with a program-record 578 passing yards, the third-most in Sun Belt Conference history. Vantrease had three receivers with 100-or-more yards in a game for the first time in school history and set the program’s single-season passing touchdown record with 17 thus far.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Tre Hawkins, Old Dominion
(Sr., DB – Temple, Texas)
Monarchs senior defensive back Tre Hawkins posted a career-high 10 tackles as Old Dominion knocked off previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina, 49-21. The Temple, Texas, product made one of the biggest plays of the day, forcing and recovering a fumble on the Chanticleers opening drive of the second half. Old Dominion scored on the ensuing possession, opening up a 21-7 lead it would never relinquish. Hawkins is the second Monarch to be dubbed a Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week, joining Jason Henderson (Week 1).
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana
(RS So., K – Clute, Texas)
Ragin’ Cajuns redshirt sophomore kicker Kenneth Almendares was responsible for 11 of Louisiana’s 23 points in the program’s 23-13 over Marshall. The Clute, Texas, native was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points in the victory. Almendares kicked a career-long 52-yard field goal in the third quarter, which proved to be the game-winner. He also connected from 42 and 33 yards. Almendares makes it back-to-back honors for Sun Belt kickers, after return specialists claimed the first five awards of the 2022 campaign.
2022 Sun Belt Football Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Chase Brice, App State (RS Sr., QB – Grayson, Ga.)
Week 2 – Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., QB – Stow, Ohio)
Week 3 – Christan Horn, App State (So., WR – Columbia, S.C.)
Week 4 – Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Week 5 – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS Jr., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
Week 6 – Todd Centeio, James Madison (Gr., QB – West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Week 7 – Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., QB – Stow, Ohio)
2022 Sun Belt Football Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (So., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
Week 2 – Jalen McLeod, App State (So., LB – Washington, D.C.)
Week 3 – Nick Ross, App State (Jr., DB – Kennesaw, Ga.)
Week 4 – Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)
Week 5 – Carlton Martial, Troy (Sr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)
Week 6 – Tory Spears, Texas State (RS Jr., S – Houston, Texas)
Week 7 – Tre Hawkins, Old Dominion (Sr., DB – Temple, Texas)
2022 Sun Belt Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Week 1 – Eric Garror, Louisiana (Sr., RS – Mobile, Ala.)
Week 2 – Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina (Fr., RS – Winter Garden, Fla.)
Week 3 – Natrone Brooks, Southern Miss (Sr., RS – Starkville, Miss.)
Week 4 – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (So., RS – Mobile, Ala.)
Week 5 – Johnnie Lang Jr., Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Palmetto, Fla.)
Week 6 – Seth Keller, Texas State (RS Jr., K – Colleyville, Texas)
Week 7 – Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS So., K – Clute, Texas)