NEW ORLEANS – After leading their teams to non-conference victories, James Madison’s Alonza Barnett III, Marshall’s J.J. Roberts and Louisiana’s Kenneth Almendares earned the Sun Belt football weekly accolades.
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison
(RS So., QB – Whitsett, N.C.)
Dukes redshirt sophomore quarterback Alonza Barnett III followed up a single-game program record seven touchdown effort with a six touchdown day as James Madison raced past Ball State, 63-7. The Whitsett, N.C., native completed 20-of-28 passes for 280 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 44 yards and a score. Barnett’s consecutive performances led the Dukes to a two-game program scoring record 133 points, as James Madison became the first team since LSU in 2019 to score 63-or-more points in back-to-back games.
Football Defensive Player of the Week
J.J. Roberts, Marshall
(RS Sr., DB – Ona, W.Va.)
Thundering Herd redshirt senior defensive back J.J. Roberts tallied a game-high 15 tackles—with 10 coming in the second half—in Marshall’s 27-20 victory over Western Michigan. The Ona, W.Va., product came from the opposite side of the field to take down a Bronco ballcarrier in the backfield for one of 1.5 tackles for loss on the day in the fourth quarter. The play forced Western Michigan into a third and long passing situation that resulted in a turnover that led to Marshall’s game-winning score. Roberts also forced a fumble on the day.
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana
(RS Sr., K – Clute, Texas)
Ragin’ Cajuns redshirt senior kicker Kenneth Almendares kicked a go-ahead 31-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining to lift Louisiana to a 41-38 victory over Wake Forest. The Clute, Texas, native also kicked a season-long 50-yard field goal and went a perfect 5-for-5 on a season-high five extra-point attempts. Almendares’ 11 points pushed his career total to 272, moving him into sixth place in program history. His season-high four touchbacks limited the Demon Deacons to an average of 16.3 yards on three returns.
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.)
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.)
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)