NEW ORLEANS – Three players making their Sun Belt debuts—Coastal Carolina’s Deuce Bailey, Southern Miss’ Kobi Albert and Louisiana Tech’s Dedrick Latulas—claimed the first weekly awards of the 2026 Sun Belt football season. 
 
Football Offensive Player of the Week
Deuce Bailey, Coastal Carolina
(RS Fr., QB – Bowling Green, Ky.)
 
Chanticleers redshirt freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey threw for 373 yards—tied for the most by a Coastal Carolina quarterback in the program’s FBS era­—in a 31-24 one-possession loss to West Virginia. The Bowling Green, Ky., native completed 21-of-37 passes and rushed for 19 yards to amass 392 yards of total offense in his Coastal Carolina debut. After trailing 24-0 at the half, Bailey threw for three second-half touchdowns to outscore the Mountaineers 24-7 over the final two quarters and pull the Chanticleers within a score in the closing minute. 
 
Football Defensive Player of the Week
Kobi Albert, Southern Miss
(RS Jr., DB – Birmingham, Ala.) 
 
Golden Eagles redshirt junior defensive back Kobi Albert collected three interceptions in a 49-3 season-opening victory over in-state FCS foe Alcorn State. The Birmingham, Ala., product’s debut performance tied for the second-most interceptions by a Golden Eagle in the 110-year history of the program. Albert added a tackle to help Southern Miss’ defensive unit hold Alcorn State to just 223 yards of total offense—the fewest allowed by the Golden Eagles since Grambling (182) on Sept. 11, 2021. 
 
Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Dedrick Latulas, Louisiana Tech
(4th Yr., RS – New Iberia, La.) 
 
Bulldogs fourth-year return specialist Dedrick Latulas accumulated 97 punt return yards on four returns in an 80-6 season-opening victory over in-state FCS foe Northwestern State. The New Iberia, La., native recorded a 58-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter—the first punt return touchdown for the Bulldogs since 2023. Latulas also hauled in two passes for 10 yards and a score on offense, becoming the first Louisiana Tech player with a punt return touchdown and a receiving touchdown since Paul Turner against Southern on Sept. 5, 2015. 
 
2026 Sun Belt Football Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Deuce Bailey, Coastal Carolina (RS Fr., QB – Bowling Green, Ky.)
 
2026 Sun Belt Football Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Kobi Albert, Southern Miss (RS Jr., DB – Birmingham, Ala.) 
 
2026 Sun Belt Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Week 1 – Dedrick Latulas, Louisiana Tech (4th Yr., RS – New Iberia, La.)