Big South Announces Football Players of the Week - Oct. 31
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – North Carolina A&T running back Bhayshul Tuten (Paulsboro, N.J.) has been named the Big South Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Gardner-Webb linebacker William McRainey (Shallotte, N.C.) is the Defensive Player of the Week for games played the ninth week of the 2022 regular-season. Runnin’ Bulldogs’ tight end Jonathan Burns (Aiken, S.C.) is the Freshman of the Week.
Tuten rushed 30 times for a career-high 256 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Aggies to a 45-38 comeback victory over Campbell. It was the second-most rushing yards in a conference game, and third-highest overall single-game rushing total in Big South history. Tuten’s 42-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave A&T its first points of the day, while his 70-yard TD scamper early in the third quarter cut the Aggies’ deficit to 28-16 and jumpstarted the eventual rally. He finished the day with 10 first down rushes, an 8.53 average yards per carry, and five runs of 11 yards or longer. Tuten was also recognized as the Stats Perform FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
McRainey tallied 11 tackles (eight solo), one sack for minus-10 yards and two pass break-ups in Gardner-Webb’s 48-40 Big South win over Bryant. He had five tackles in the fourth quarter, and his PBU with 19.3 seconds left in the game on fourth down at the GWU 32-yard line ended Bryant’s comeback attempt. McRainey’s sack came on a second down play with just under four minutes remaining that limited the Bulldogs to a field goal four plays later. Four of McRainey’s four tackles resulted in no gain, and his two pass break-ups were in the final period.
Burns made the most of his first career start with three catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns in Gardner-Webb’s victory over Bryant. Entering the contest with just four receptions for 40 yards and no scores, Burns first tied the game at 14-14 with a 71-yard catch-and-run to end the first quarter. His second catch of the day was a 4-yard touchdown to put GWU ahead, 48-29, while his final reception resulted in a first down later in the fourth quarter.
Also nominated for Offensive Player of the Week: Hajj-Malik Williams (Campbell) and Bailey Fisher (Gardner-Webb).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Chaney Fitzgerald (Campbell) and Wesley Graves (North Carolina A&T).