Following Saturday night’s game against Marshall, three WKU Football players were listed on the PFF College Conference USA Team of the Week, and tight end Mik’Quan Deane was named a John Mackey Award Honorable Mention Tight End of the Week.
Deane caught three passes for a career-high 64 yards and his third touchdown of the season. His 43-yard reception in the second quarter was the longest of his career and his 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter put the Hilltoppers ahead 20-17 with 6:50 remaining.
Offensive lineman Tyler Witt earned an 82.1 overall blocking grade, which was first in C-USA and 10th in the nation among all offensive linemen, as well as third in the nation among guards. Meanwhile, his 86.4 run blocking grade led C-USA and ranked third in the country among all offensive linemen, and was runner-up nationally among guards.
Linebacker Masai Whyte earned an 81.6 overall defensive grade, which was second in C-USA among linebackers, and a 79.8 coverage grade, which led all league linebackers. Whyte tied for the WKU lead with seven tackles (four solo) while adding one sack and one pass breakup. He also recorded his first career interception, which he returned for 27 yards in the fourth quarter.
Wide receiver Jacquez Sloan posted a 77.9 overall grade and a 76.8 receiving grade, which was second in C-USA among wideouts with five or more targets. His career-long 60-yard catch in the fourth quarter put the Hilltoppers in the Thundering Herd red zone with under one minute to play. In all, Sloan tied a career-high with four catches for a career-high 87 yards through the air.
WKU will be on Bye for Week 6 before traveling to Charlotte for the team’s next contest on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Hilltoppers and 49ers will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT with the game to be streamed on ESPN+.
Courtesy of WKU Athletics