DALLAS — Missouri State linebacker Kanye Young (Menifee, Calif.) and tight end Jeron Askren (Wichita, Kan.) were honored Monday by Conference USA as the league’s Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, for their roles in the Bears’ victory over Marshall on Saturday.
Young paced a feisty Missouri State defense in the club’s win at Marshall, posting a team-high seven total tackles, including three solos, a pair of quarterback hurries, a tackle for loss, and an interception on Marshall’s final offensive possession of the night. Three of his stops came on third down to end Marshall drives. Behind Young’s efforts, Missouri State held Marshall to just 274 yards of total offense and 12 first downs on the night.
Askren, a redshirt freshman, scored the game-winning touchdown to complete Missouri State’s fourth-quarter comeback. His eight-yard TD grab from Jacob Clark with 2:12 to play cinched the Bears’ first victory as an FBS program and helped the visitors overcome a 13-point second-half deficit. The game also marked his first career start for the Maroon and White.
The tandem represent Missouri State’s first-ever CUSA weekly award recipients.
MoState quarterback Jacob Clark (Rockwall, Texas) and offensive lineman Mark Hutchinson (Hayward, Calif.) were also on the nominees list for CUSA awards this week at their respective positions.
Coach Ryan Beard‘s Bears open a six-game home slate this Saturday when they entertain nationally-ranked SMU at 2:30 p.m. at Plaster Stadium.
