Wesley Kennedy III Honored by Sun Belt
10/28/2019 11:05:00 AM | Football
Junior amassed 222 all-purpose yards against South Alabama
NEW ORLEANS - Georgia Southern junior Wesley Kennedy III was honored by the Sun Belt Conference Monday morning, earning Special Teams Player of the week accolades. He become the fourth Eagle player to be honored this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern (Junior, Running Back, Savannah, Ga.)
Georgia Southern junior running back Wesley Kennedy III had a monster game as the Eagles rolled past New Mexico State. The junior tallied 222 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard rushing touchdown and a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. The punt return score was his first collegiate one and the first by an Eagle since 2011. He also tallied a career-high 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns and had a 9-yard catch. He carried the ball just six times for a 23.8 average and the Eagle offense posted 403 yards on the ground.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tra Barnett, Georgia State (Senior, Running Back, Elberton, Ga.)
Georgia State senior running back, Tra Barnett, rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns and broke Georgia State's single-game, season and career rushing records to lead the Panthers to bowl eligibility with their fourth straight victory, 52-33 over Troy. The senior from Elberton, Ga., became Georgia State's career rushing leader with 1,631 yards, and he took sole possession of the GSU career record with 15 career rushing touchdowns. With 928 yards on the year, Barnett also broke the Georgia State single-season record. Barnett's 242 yards shattered the GSU single-game mark of 201 yards, breaking the record with a 41-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1 with one minute to play to seal the victory. His outburst helped the Panthers rush for a team-record 390 yards against a Troy defense that entered the game ranked No. 11 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 93.3 yards per game. Barnett has topped the 100-yard mark in a GSU-record four straight games and now has a season-record five 100-yard games in 2019 and six in his career, which equals the GSU career mark. He now leads the Sun Belt and ranks ninth in FBS at 116.0 rushing yards per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathan Page, Arkansas State (Sophomore, Cornerback, Roland, Ark.)
Arkansas State sophomore cornerback, Nathan Page, posted a career-high two interceptions, a pass break-up and two tackles to help Arkansas State claim a 38-14 win over Texas State. The Roland, Ark., native not only posted the first two interceptions of his career; his two picks tied the most by a Sun Belt player this season. Each of Page's interceptions came in the second half, helping the Red Wolves outscore the Bobcats, 21-0. He was part of A-State's defense that allowed just 227 yards total offense and eight first downs on the night. Page now ranks tied for the third most passes defended (8) in the Sun Belt this season.
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 2: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
September 9: Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
September 16: Kaleb Barker, Troy
September 23: Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
September 30: Omar Bayless, Arkansas State
October 7: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
October 14: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
October 21: Raymond Calais, Louisiana
October 28: Tra Barnett, Georgia State
Defensive Player
September 2: Carlton Martial, Troy
September 9: Chandler Kryst, Coastal Carolina
September 16: Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern
September 23: Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
September 30: Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana
October 7: Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern
October 14: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
October 21: Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Georgia State
October 28: Nathan Page, Arkansas State
Special Teams Player
September 2: Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
September 9: Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern
September 16: Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern
September 23: Joshua Rowland, Texas State
September 30: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 7: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 14: Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
October 21: Tyler Sumpter, Troy
October 28: Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern (Junior, Running Back, Savannah, Ga.)
Georgia Southern junior running back Wesley Kennedy III had a monster game as the Eagles rolled past New Mexico State. The junior tallied 222 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including a 71-yard rushing touchdown and a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. The punt return score was his first collegiate one and the first by an Eagle since 2011. He also tallied a career-high 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns and had a 9-yard catch. He carried the ball just six times for a 23.8 average and the Eagle offense posted 403 yards on the ground.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tra Barnett, Georgia State (Senior, Running Back, Elberton, Ga.)
Georgia State senior running back, Tra Barnett, rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns and broke Georgia State's single-game, season and career rushing records to lead the Panthers to bowl eligibility with their fourth straight victory, 52-33 over Troy. The senior from Elberton, Ga., became Georgia State's career rushing leader with 1,631 yards, and he took sole possession of the GSU career record with 15 career rushing touchdowns. With 928 yards on the year, Barnett also broke the Georgia State single-season record. Barnett's 242 yards shattered the GSU single-game mark of 201 yards, breaking the record with a 41-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1 with one minute to play to seal the victory. His outburst helped the Panthers rush for a team-record 390 yards against a Troy defense that entered the game ranked No. 11 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 93.3 yards per game. Barnett has topped the 100-yard mark in a GSU-record four straight games and now has a season-record five 100-yard games in 2019 and six in his career, which equals the GSU career mark. He now leads the Sun Belt and ranks ninth in FBS at 116.0 rushing yards per game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathan Page, Arkansas State (Sophomore, Cornerback, Roland, Ark.)
Arkansas State sophomore cornerback, Nathan Page, posted a career-high two interceptions, a pass break-up and two tackles to help Arkansas State claim a 38-14 win over Texas State. The Roland, Ark., native not only posted the first two interceptions of his career; his two picks tied the most by a Sun Belt player this season. Each of Page's interceptions came in the second half, helping the Red Wolves outscore the Bobcats, 21-0. He was part of A-State's defense that allowed just 227 yards total offense and eight first downs on the night. Page now ranks tied for the third most passes defended (8) in the Sun Belt this season.
2019 Weekly Award Winners
Offensive Player
September 2: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
September 9: Darrynton Evans, Appalachian State
September 16: Kaleb Barker, Troy
September 23: Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana
September 30: Omar Bayless, Arkansas State
October 7: Dan Ellington, Georgia State
October 14: Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
October 21: Raymond Calais, Louisiana
October 28: Tra Barnett, Georgia State
Defensive Player
September 2: Carlton Martial, Troy
September 9: Chandler Kryst, Coastal Carolina
September 16: Rashad Byrd, Georgia Southern
September 23: Demetrius Taylor, Appalachian State
September 30: Jacques Boudreaux, Louisiana
October 7: Raymond Johnson III, Georgia Southern
October 14: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
October 21: Trajan Stephens-McQueen, Georgia State
October 28: Nathan Page, Arkansas State
Special Teams Player
September 2: Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina
September 9: Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern
September 16: Monquavion Brinson, Georgia Southern
September 23: Joshua Rowland, Texas State
September 30: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 7: Cody Grace, Arkansas State
October 14: Rhys Byrns, Louisiana
October 21: Tyler Sumpter, Troy
October 28: Wesley Kennedy III, Georgia Southern
Players Mentioned
PK
/ Football
CB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ FootballGetting to Know: Delanie Thames (Softball)
Wednesday, April 15
Georgia Southern Football Media Availability (4/4/26)
Saturday, April 04
Declare your Major Day 2026
Tuesday, March 31
The GATA ZONE - Spring Volleyball
Thursday, March 26
