After setting a school receiving record with 292 receiving yards and becoming the first FBS player in 10 years to catch three passes of 75 yards or longer in a game, Southern Miss junior WR Allenzae Staggers has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week.  The Defensive Player of the Week honor went to FIU senior LB Anthony Wint, who had 12 tackles and a forced fumble in the Panthers Shula Bowl victory.  For the second time in three weeks, the Special Teams Player of the Week award was given to WKU junior PR Nacarius Fant, who had a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown on Saturday to become the first FBS player to return two punts for scores this season.  C-USA Football Players of the Week are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.

October 3 POW Release
 
Staggers caught six passes for a school-record 292 receiving yards in Saturday’s 44-28 win over Rice, surpassing Kendrick Lee’s previous mark of 260 against Houston on Nov. 9, 1996.  His catches included touchdown receptions of 75, 81 and 93 yards, his first three catches he made in the contest.  Staggers is the first FBS player in 10 years to catch three 75-plus yard touchdowns in the same game.  His other catches included grabs of 19, 16 and eight yards for a 48.7 reception average.  Staggers receiving total for the game also ranks second all-time in Conference USA (the record is 346). The 93-yard reception by the Woodville, Mississippi, native marked the third longest pass play in Southern Miss history.
 
Wint tied a season-high in tackles with 12 on Saturday night to help FIU defeat rival Florida Atlantic, 33-31, and guide the Panthers to their first win of the season.  The Homestead, Florida, native also had a tackle for loss and forced a key fumble in the third quarter that led to an FIU touchdown.  Wint has recorded double-digit tackles in three-straight games as well as in four of the team’s five outings on the year.
 
With his 50-yard punt return touchdown in the third quarter vs. Houston Baptist, Fant became the first player in the FBS with two punt return scores this year. It's the first time WKU has had multiple punt return touchdowns in a season in the FBS era (since 2009), while Fant became only the seventh player in Hilltopper history to have multiple punt return touchdowns in a season.  The Bowling Green, Kentucky, native also added punt returns of 12 and 6 yards in the contest for the best return day of his career (three returns for 68 yards).  Fant also added 68 all-purpose yards on offense in a versatile effort.

2016 WINNERS:
Offensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Mike White, QB, WKU; Sept. 12 – Trent Taylor, WR, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 19 – I’Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 26 - I’Tavius Mathers, RB, Middle Tennessee; Oct. 3 – Allenzae Staggers, KR, Southern Miss.
Defensive Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Xavier Woods, S, Louisiana Tech; Sept. 12 – Anthony Wilson, LB, Old Dominion; Sept. 19 – Shaquille Huff, DT, Middle Tennessee; Sept. 26 – Kishawn McClain, S, North Texas; Oct. 3 – Anthony Wint, LB, FIU.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Sept. 5 – Parker Shaunfield, K, Southern Miss; Sept. 12 – Allenzae Staggers, KR, Southern Miss; Sept. 19 – Nacarius Fant, KR/PR, WKU; Sept. 26 – Tyler Wilson, KR, North Texas; Oct. 3 – Nacarius Fant, KR/PR, WKU.