After becoming bowl eligible and winning its fourth road game of the season, Middle Tennessee’s DJ Sanders and Brent Stockstill were named Conference USA Players of the Week as announced by the league on Monday. Sanders was the defensive winner and Stockstill brought home the offensive award.
Sanders, a junior linebacker from Sandersville, GA, scored the game-winning touchdown on an interception return of 48 yards with 1:22 remaining at FIU. The Golden Panthers were driving toward midfield for the winning score when Sanders hauled in his third career INT and his second for a touchdown. It capped a great game for Sanders, who had seven tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one pass break-up and the game-winning touchdown.
Stockstill, a redshirt sophomore, threw for four touchdowns in Middle Tennessee’s 42-35 win against FIU. Stockstill was 21-of-34 for 318 yards, four scores and no interceptions in driving rain on and off throughout. Stockstill had scoring passes of 52, 15, 19 and 26 yards. He became MT’s all-time leader in touchdown passes in just his second season and only 22 games.
This marks the sixth and seventh player of the week winners for the Blue Raiders this season. Under Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee has now won 66 conference player of the week awards.
