Alani Fua receives FBS Independent defensive honors

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FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION INDEPENDENT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK NAMED

Army running back Terry Baggett, BYU linebacker Alani Fua and Idaho punter/placekicker Austin Rehkow have been named FBS Independent Players of the Week, for games played through Saturday, Oct. 12.  Baggett is cited on Offense, Fua is honored on Defense, and Rehkow is recognized on Special Teams.  The commendations are the second of the season and career for all three players.

The FBS Independent Players of the Week are selected by members of a nationwide media panel, which includes equal representation from each of the independent institutions’ coverage markets.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Army RB Terry Baggett

A junior from Chicago, Ill., Baggett set an Academy record with 304 rushing yards in Army’s 50-25 home win over Eastern Michigan.  He scored four touchdowns, including a 96-yard sprint that marked the second-longest run in Army history; his other scoring runs covered four, 67 and 34 yards.  Baggett reached his milestone rushing tally on only 18 attempts, averaging a whopping 16.9 yards per carry on the day.  Baggett’s 304 rushing yards are the most by any Division I player this season, and his 96-yard TD run is the longest by an FBS player this year.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BYU LB Alani Fua

A junior from San Fernando Valley, Calif., Fua recorded a 51-yard interception return for touchdown to go along with a pass breakup and two solo tackles in BYU's 38-20 home win over Georgia Tech.  Fua's pick-six runback came with BYU leading by 11 and the Yellow Jackets driving in the fourth quarter; the interception helped seal the outcome by putting the Cougars up 31-13 with 11:01 to play in the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Idaho P/PK Austin Rehkow

A freshman from Spokane, Wash., Rehkow punted nine times for a 44.9 yard average, with a long kick of 56 yards, in Idaho’s 48-24 setback at Arkansas State.  Two of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.  Rehkow also nailed a 28-yard field goal on his lone three-point attempt, and connected on all three of the Vandals’ PATs.