UT MARTIN’S FRANKLIN AND LAROS CLAIM BIG SOUTH-OVC FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
10/2/2023 9:30:00 AM | Football
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin duo of running back Sam Franklin and kicker/punter Aidan Laros were honored for their impressive performances against Tennessee State by being named Big South-OVC Football Association Players of the Week.
For the third time this season, Franklin was honored as the league's top offensive player after posting his sixth career 100-yard rushing performance against TSU. Despite being hampered by an early injury, the Little Rock, Ark. native gutted out 20 carries for 132 yards – averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The redshirt-sophomore leads all FBS and FCS performers with 785 rushing yards and 157.0 yards per game this season.
Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Laros has been a huge impact transfer for the Skyhawks this season. Handling all kicking duties, the specialist filled up the stat sheet by scoring eight points for the Skyhawks by making 2-of-2 field goal opportunities from 22 and 23 yards, while also converting a pair of point after attempts. He also left his mark by flipping the field, booting four punts for an average of 46.2 yards per attempts – including a pair inside the 20-yard line. While he launched a 55-yard attempt for a game-long, his best attempt came in the third quarter when he pinned the Tigers on their own two-yard line. Additionally, he averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff while notching four touchbacks.
The Skyhawks return to action this weekend with a road association matchup at Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 7.
For the third time this season, Franklin was honored as the league's top offensive player after posting his sixth career 100-yard rushing performance against TSU. Despite being hampered by an early injury, the Little Rock, Ark. native gutted out 20 carries for 132 yards – averaging 6.6 yards per carry. The redshirt-sophomore leads all FBS and FCS performers with 785 rushing yards and 157.0 yards per game this season.
Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Laros has been a huge impact transfer for the Skyhawks this season. Handling all kicking duties, the specialist filled up the stat sheet by scoring eight points for the Skyhawks by making 2-of-2 field goal opportunities from 22 and 23 yards, while also converting a pair of point after attempts. He also left his mark by flipping the field, booting four punts for an average of 46.2 yards per attempts – including a pair inside the 20-yard line. While he launched a 55-yard attempt for a game-long, his best attempt came in the third quarter when he pinned the Tigers on their own two-yard line. Additionally, he averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff while notching four touchbacks.
The Skyhawks return to action this weekend with a road association matchup at Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 7.
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