Reed Named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football quarterback Austin Reed has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week, presented by Blenders Eyewear, after his big performance in WKU’s 41-28 win at FIU on Saturday in the regular-season finale.
Reed threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-35 passing in just three quarters of action, helping the Hilltoppers build a large lead over the host Panthers before coming out of the game.
Reed’s four touchdown passes were to four different receivers – a 2-yard pass to Malachi Corley, a 39-yard pass to Jimmy Holiday, a 16-yard pass to Easton Messer, and a 45-yard pass to K.D. Hutchinson on his final play of the game.
In 12 games this season, the redshirt senior from St. Augustine Beach, Florida, has thrown for 3,340 yards and 31 touchdowns on 289-of-470 passing. He ranks first in CUSA in passing yards per game (278.3), total passing yards (3,340), completions (289), and passing touchdowns (31), and he is second in CUSA in total offense (286.7) and total offensive touchdowns (35).
It is WKU’s fifth CUSA weekly award this season, and the second Offensive Player of the Week nod. Wide Receiver Malachi Corley was named Offensive Player of the Week after WKU’s win at Louisiana Tech, while linebacker JaQues Evans and kicker Lucas Carneiro earned CUSA Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively, after WKU’s Week 1 win over South Florida, and linebacker Bryson Washington was named Defensive Player of the Week following the win over Middle Tennessee.
WKU capped off the regular season with a 7-5 overall record and a 5-3 mark in CUSA play. The Hilltoppers will now prepare for the program’s 10th bowl game in the last 12 seasons.
2023 WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Week
A28 – WR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
S4 – WR Kris Mitchell, FIU
S11 – RB Kejon Owens, FIU
S18 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
S25 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
O2 – QB Logan Smothers, Jax State
O9 – WR Malachi Corley, WKU
O16 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
O23 – QB Zion Webb, Jax State
O30 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
N6 – RB Quinton Cooley, Liberty
N13 – QB Kaidon Salter, Liberty
N20 – QB Diego Pavia, New Mexico State
N27 – QB Austin Reed, WKU
Defensive Player of the Week
A28 – S Jeremiah Harris, Jax State
S4 – LB JaQues Evans, WKU
S11 – LB Tyrice Knight, UTEP
S18 – LB Sam Brumfield, MTSU
S25 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O2 – LB Bryson Washington, WKU
O9 – DL Chris Hardie, Jax State
O16 – DL Maurice Westmoreland, UTEP
O23 – LB Reggie Peterson, FIU
O30 – DL J-Rock Swain, Jax State
N6 – DB Da’Marcus Crosby, Sam Houston
N13 – LB Kavian Gaither, Sam Houston
N20 – LB Gabe Peterson, New Mexico State
N27 – LB Trevor Williams, Sam Houston
Special Teams Player of the Week
A28 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
S4 – K Lucas Carneiro, WKU
S11 – K Jacob Barnes, LA Tech
S18 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
S25 – P Jack Dawson, Jax State
O2 – PR Smoke Harris, LA Tech
O9 – P Max Morgan, Liberty
O16 – P Joshua Sloan, UTEP
O23 – K Alen Karajic, Jax State
O30 – K Buzz Flabiano, UTEP
N6 – K Colby Sessums, Sam Houston
N13 – K Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
N20 – DB Kekoura Tarnue, Jax State
N27 – K Ethan Albertson, NMSU
