Weekly Awards Once Again Rolling In

Riley Named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week

University of Louisville defensive back Quincy Riley has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Back of the Week on Monday. Riley intercepted a pair of passes in Louisville’s 48-21 win over No. 10 Wake Forest on Saturday at Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals forced eight turnovers in the game, including a season best four interceptions. The native of Columbia, S.C., returned one of his interceptions 90 yards for a touchdown in a third quarter where the Cards tallied 35 unanswered point en route to its first top-10 win since 2016. The 90-yard return was the longest since a 95-yard return in 1975.

Cards Named the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week

The University of Louisville football team won their third straight game behind a feisty defense that forced eight Wake Forest turnovers in a 48-21 win over the No. 10 Demon Deacons. For posting a 35-point third quarter and pinning down its first win over a top-10 team as an unranked team since 2002, Louisville (5-3) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 29, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Deone Walker Named Semifinalist for Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award

University of Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker has been named one of 14 semifinalists for the fifth annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, announced Thursday by the Maxwell Football Club. The award is presented to the outstanding freshman player in college football. He has totaled 20 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups, helping the Cats’ defense rank in the top 25 nationally in total defense and scoring defense. He was named a midseason True Freshman All-American by The Athletic, 247 Sports and On3.com.

Riley Named the Jim Thorpe Player of the Week

University of Louisville cornerback Quincy Riley was named this week’s Jim Thorpe Player of the Week after his performance in the 48-21 win over No. 10 Wake Forest last Saturday at Cardinal Stadium. Riley earned the prestigious honor after a two-interception performance in Louisville’s first win over a top 10 opponent since 2016..The native of Columbia, S.C., returned one of the interceptions 90 yards for a pick-six and was a part of a Louisville defense that helped force eight turnovers on the day.

Kye Robichaux Represents WKU as 2022 Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

WKU running back Kye Robichaux has been named among 81 players nominated for the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy, the award announced Tuesday. The trophy is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, former University of Arkansas Walk-On and All-American offensive lineman. The Burlsworth Trophy is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a Walk-On and has shown outstanding performance on the field. Each nominee must have begun his first season of participation with an FBS (D1) football program without financial aid of any kind from his university’s athletic department. In 2021, Robichaux began his career with WKU as a true freshman walk-on and rushed for 332 yards and three touchdowns on the season. This year, Robichaux is the leading rusher for the Hilltoppers to date with 458 yards and three touchdowns, including a 6.7 yards per carry average. After his freshman campaign, Robichaux was awarded a scholarship and has been a key fixture in the WKU backfield.

Three from WKU Soccer Earn C-USA Postseason Awards

Three members of the WKU Soccer team have earned postseason Conference USA awards, the league announced on Tuesday. Lyric Schmidt was named to the All-Conference First Team, Alexis Bach was named to the All-Conference Third Team and Abby Davis was tabbed to the All-Freshmen Team.

Colin Goodfellow Named Burlsworth Trophy Nominee

Graduate super senior and punter Colin Goodfellow has been named one of 81 FBS players nominated for the 2022 Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on, it was announced Tuesday.

Two Players Selected as Preseason Picks to All-SEC First Team

Kentucky seniors Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler were recognized by the Southeastern Conference’s coaches as preseason picks to make the league’s first team it was announced on Wednesday. UK’s duo was joined on the first team by Alabama’s Jahvon Quinerly, Arkansas’ Nick Smith Jr., Florida’s Colin Castleton, Mississippi State’s Tolu Smith, Missouri’s Kobe Brown and Tennessee’s Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler. Tshiebwe and Wheeler were also selected to the preseason All-SEC first team by the media in October.

Corley Added to Biletnikoff Award Watch List

WKU wide receiver Malachi Corley has been added to the 2022 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation announced Wednesday. Through nine games played this season, Corley is WKU’s leading receiver with 58 receptions for 701 yards and six touchdowns.