NEW ORLEANS – After contributing to team wins, App State’s Christan Horn and Nick Ross and Southern Miss’ Natrone Brooks claimed the conference’s weekly awards.
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Christan Horn, App State
(So., WR – Columbia, S.C.)
Mountaineers sophomore wide receiver Christan Horn made the catch that punctuated App State’s 32-28 win after hosting College GameDay on Saturday morning. With App State trailing 28-26 with 2 seconds on the clock redshirt senior quarterback Chase Brice heaved a fourth-down Hail Mary attempt that Dalton Stroman tipped at the 5-yard line to a streaking Horn, who followed a Kaedin Robinson block into the end zone for the miraculous 53-yard game-winning touchdown. Horn, a Columbia, S.C., native, finished with career-highs of five catches and 98 yards in the 32-28 win.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Nick Ross, App State
(Jr., DB – Kennesaw, Ga.)
Mountaineers junior defensive back Nick Ross paced the App State defense with a career-high 12 tackles and a pass breakup in the miraculous 32-28 win over Troy. The Kennesaw, Ga., product led the Mountaineer defensive unit that held the Trojans to just seven second-half points and 57 total rushing yards in the conference opener. Ross and the App State defense held one of the nation’s top passing attacks to 73 yards under their season average of 375 entering the game.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Natrone Brooks, Southern Miss
(Sr., RS – Starkville, Miss.)
Golden Eagles senior return specialist Natrone Brooks tied the program record for most punt returns in a game with seven, while his 145 return yards were the second-most in school history. Each of the Starkville, Miss., native’s returns were at least 10 yards—with three going for at least 25 yards (27, 31 and 33). Brooks currently ranks ninth in the nation, averaging 18.4 yards per return and sits second nationally with 147 return yards, trailing only Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry.
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.)
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.)
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.)