NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A big night for UT Martin redshirt sophomore running back Sam Franklin led to an Offensive Player of the Week nod in football as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its winners on Tuesday, based on the week’s action between Sept. 4 through 10th.
FOOTBALL: Franklin, out of Little Rock, Ark., was just 13 yards shy of tying a UT Martin program record as he rushed for 259 yards and three touchdowns in a thrilling 38-31 victory over Missouri State. The 259 yards is the most collected by a running back this season on any NCAA level.
The Skyhawk rusher scored the game-winning 20-yard touchdown with less than two minutes to go in the contest, following up scores from 81 and 20 yards out as he averaged 13.0 yards per tote. It is the second time in his career to rush for three touchdowns in a game, following a trio of scores against Lindenwood last season.
On the defensive side, the nod went to Tennessee senior linebacker Aaron Beasley. In the Vols’ 30-13 victory over Austin Peay, the Franklin, Ga., native recorded nine total tackles, including five for-loss for 24 yards and two sacks for 19. Beasley’s career-high mark in tackles-for-loss is the most by a Southeastern Conference player this season and the most since Vanderbilt’s Jaylen Mahoney recorded five at Missouri last season. He currently leads the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision with six.
SOCCER: Lipscomb swept the awards in men’s and women’s soccer for the week as senior forward Tyrese Spicer was selected as the men’s soccer player of the week and graduate forward Kelli Beiler was tabbed as the women’s soccer player of the week.
Spicer led the Bisons in a close 3-2 loss to No. 19 Kentucky, scoring both of Lipscomb’s goals in the affair on five shots on goal. Spicer currently leads the team with five goals and is tied with teammate Malachi Jones with 11 points to pace the Lipscomb roster.
Beiler played the full 90 minutes in the Bisons’ win over Ole Miss, recording both goals in Lipscomb’s 2-1 victory. It was the women’s soccer program’s first win over an SEC team since 2018. Beiler has six goals so far this season in eight matches and leads the Atlantic Sun Conference in goals, while ranking 23rd in Division I.
VOLLEYBALL: Middle Tennessee senior setter Taylor Eisert had a tremendous weekend at the Auburn Tiger Invitational as the Louisville, Ky., native recorded 141 assists. The current Division I leader in assists per set (11.97) recorded 44 assists and 13 digs as the Blue Raiders upset No. 25 Auburn 3-1, then tallied another double-double in a 3-2 win over Mercer. Eisert finished the weekend with 30 digs and four service aces.
2023-24 TSWA College Sports Players of the Week
FOOTBALL
8/29 | Offensive: A.J. Swann (Vanderbilt), Defensive: De’Rickey Wright (Vanderbilt)
9/5 | Offensive: Joe Milton III (Tennessee), Defensive: Jake Cottle (Carson-Newman)
9/12 | Offensive: Sam Franklin (UT Martin), Defensive: Aaron Beasley (Tennessee)MEN’S SOCCER
8/29 | Brock Kiper (Belmont)
9/5 | Malachi Jones (Lipscomb)
9/12 | Tyrese Spicer (Lipscomb)WOMEN’S SOCCER
8/29 | Eleanor Gough (Middle Tennessee)
9/5 | Caroline Richvalsky (Chattanooga)
9/12 | Kelli Beiler (Lipscomb)VOLLEYBALL
8/29 | Laure Jansen (Middle Tennessee)
9/5 | Mikayla Powell (Austin Peay)
9/12 | Taylor Eisert (Middle Tennessee)
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