MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama wide receiver Shavarez Smith has been named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
Record Performance
Smith, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior from McDonough, Georgia, caught 10 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown in South Alabama’s road win at Georgia State.
The 194 receiving yards set a South Alabama single-game record and are the most by any Sun Belt player this season.
Smith is the second Jaguar to earn the conference’s weekly offensive award this season. Quarterback Ross Metheny received the honor after South Alabama’s win over Tulane on Sept. 7.
Season Records
Heading into the regular-season finale, Smith holds South Alabama’s single-season records with 47 receptions and 900 receiving yards.
He ranks third in the Sun Belt in receiving yards per game and is 12th in the nation with an average of 19.1 yards per catch.
Bowl Eligibility at Stake
South Alabama hosts conference leader Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Senior Day ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m., ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff.
A victory would give the Jaguars a .500 record for the season and make them bowl eligible for the first time in program history. It is South Alabama’s first season eligible for the Sun Belt championship and postseason play under head coach Joey Jones.
