THE OFFICIAL HOME OF McNEESE ATHLETICS

LAKE CHARLES – McNeese State senior punt returner Darius Carey has been named this week's College Football Performance Awards national punt returner of the week, sharing the accolade with Julian Burton of Missouri State and Trey Diller of Sam Houston State.
 
Carey returned one punt for 43 yards in Saturday's stunning 27-26 loss to Central Arkansas.  It was his second longest punt return in his McNeese career and the longest of the season.  He had a 68 yarder returned for a touchdown last season against Sioux Falls.
 
The New Orleans native is currently ranked sixth among all punt returners in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with a 15.3 yards return average and is second in the Southland Conference behind UCA's Jess Grandy (15.4).
 
His return against UCA came late in the second quarter of Saturday's game and helped set up a 31-yard field goal as time expired to give McNeese a 12-10 lead at the half.
 
This is the second CFPA award for a McNeese player this season.  Chris Raggett was named national defensive back player of the week after he had two interceptions returned for touchdowns in a win over McMurry in week 2 of the season.
 
Carey was named to the CFPA punt returner watch list in the preseason.