NEW ORLEANS – After leading their teams to victories to stay unbeaten in conference play, Texas State’s Jordan McCloud, Georgia Southern’s Marques Watson-Trent and Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares earned the Sun Belt football weekly honors.   
 
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Jordan McCloud, Texas State 
(RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.) 
 
Bobcats redshirt senior quarterback Jordan McCloud accounted for all five touchdowns in Texas State’s 41-9 victory over Arkansas State. The Tampa, Fla., native completed 24-of-29 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 29 yards and a score. McCloud’s effort was his fifth game with three-or-more passing touchdowns in 2024, his fourth game with four-or-more touchdowns accounted for and his third game with 300-or-more passing yards. He propelled the Bobcats to 591 yards of total offense—their highest output during the 2024 campaign.  
 
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern 
(RS Sr., LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
 
Eagles redshirt senior linebacker Marques Watson-Trent made significant contributions to Georgia Southern’s 21-point fourth quarter en route to a come-from-behind 24-23 win over Marshall. With Georgia Southern trailing 23-3 in the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh, Pa., native forced two fumbles that led to the last two Eagles touchdowns to secure the comeback win. Watson-Trent tallied 10 tackles—including 1.5 tackles for loss—to go along with the two forced fumbles. With 300 career tackles, he moves into fifth place all-time at Georgia Southern. 
 
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana 
(RS Sr., K – Clute, Texas)
 
Ragin’ Cajuns redshirt senior kicker Kenneth Almendares booted a pair of field goals and converted on all four extra-point attempts in a 34-24 victory over App State. The Clute, Texas, native—who paces the Sun Belt with 58 points scored this season—moved past former Louisiana and NFL great Brian Mitchell into fourth place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 293 points scored. Almendares’ career-long 53-yard field goal also tied him with Steve Artigue (2015-19) for the school record for most field goals made. 
 
2024 Sun Belt Football Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Ethan Vasko, Coastal Carolina (RS So., QB – Chesapeake, Va.)  
Week 2 – Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.) 
Week 3 – Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB – Antioch, Calif.) 
Week 4 – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS So., QB – Whitsett, N.C.) 
Week 5 – Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (RS So., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
Week 6 – Braylon Braxton, Marshall (RS Jr., QB – Frisco, Texas) 
Week 7 – Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
 
2024 Sun Belt Football Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Wydett Williams Jr., ULM (Jr., DB – Lake Providence, La.) 
Week 2 – Jahron Manning, Old Dominion (Jr., DB – New Orleans, La.) 
Week 3 – Kevin Swint, Georgia State (Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
Week 4 – Jordan Scruggs, South Alabama (RS Jr., DB – Kansas City, Mo.)
Week 5 – J.J. Roberts, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – Ona, W.Va.)
Week 6 – Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana (RS Jr., LB – Houston, Texas)
Week 7 – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.) 
 
2024 Sun Belt Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Week 1 – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (So., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)  
Week 2 – Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State (RS Sr., RS – Monroeville, Pa.)  
Week 3 – Devonte Ross, Troy (Jr., RS – Cartersville, Ga.) 
Week 4 – Terrence Spence, James Madison (Sr., DB – Ringwood, N.J.)
Week 5 – Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS Sr., K – Clute, Texas)
Week 6 – Clune Van Andel, Arkansas State (So., K – Grand Rapids, Mich.)  
Week 7 – Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana (RS Sr., K – Clute, Texas)