West Virginia junior running back Wendell Smallwood highlights four players named Big 12 Players of the week in the season's final Big 12 Players of the Week by a panel of media who covers the Conference. K-State’s Deante Burton, Charmeachealle Moore and Morgan Burns also were named to the list.
Burns (special teams) is the first player in Big 12 history to be honored four-consecutive weeks. Burton (co-offense), Smallwood (co-offense) and Moore (defense) each picked up their first award.
Big 12 Offensive Co-Players of the Week
Wendell Smallwood, West Virginia, RB, Jr, Wilmington, Del.
Wendell Smallwood finished the K-State game with 141 yards rushing on 25 attempts and a touchdown in a 24-23 loss. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry with five runs over 10-or-more yards. His long run of the day was a 14-yard scamper for a TD in the third quarter. He had 16 runs that covered at least five yards.
Deante Burton, K-State, WR, Jr, Manhattan, Kan.
Junior wide receiver Deante Burton carded five catches for a career-high 135 yards and a touchdown in K-State’s 24-23 win over West Virginia that earned the team bowl eligibility. His touchdown went for 77 yards in the third quarter and gave the Cats their first lead of the game at 17-13 while sparking the second-half rally. Burton bettered his previous career high of 65 receiving yards, set earlier this year against TCU. He recorded the Wildcats’ second 100-yard receiving game this year.
Junior wide receiver Deante Burton carded five catches for a career-high 135 yards and a touchdown in K-State’s 24-23 win over West Virginia that earned the team bowl eligibility. His touchdown went for 77 yards in the third quarter and gave the Cats their first lead of the game at 17-13 while sparking the second-half rally. Burton bettered his previous career high of 65 receiving yards, set earlier this year against TCU. He recorded the Wildcats’ second 100-yard receiving game this year.
Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Charmeachealle Moore, K-State, LB, Jr, Dallas, Texas
Junior linebacker Charmeachealle Moore set career highs in tackles (17), solo tackles (16), tackles for loss (4.0) and sacks (2.0) against the Big 12’s second-ranked running game in West Virginia. His biggest stop came late in the game as he recorded a fourth-down tackle of WVU quarterback Skyler Howard with just over two minutes remaining and the Wildcats holding on to the one-point lead.
Charmeachealle Moore, K-State, LB, Jr, Dallas, Texas
Junior linebacker Charmeachealle Moore set career highs in tackles (17), solo tackles (16), tackles for loss (4.0) and sacks (2.0) against the Big 12’s second-ranked running game in West Virginia. His biggest stop came late in the game as he recorded a fourth-down tackle of WVU quarterback Skyler Howard with just over two minutes remaining and the Wildcats holding on to the one-point lead.
Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
Morgan Burns, K-State, KR, Sr, Wichita, Kan.
Senior Morgan Burns scored the game-winning touchdown with his Big 12 record-tying fourth kickoff return score of the season to send the Cats to six wins. Burns returned three kickoffs for 201 yards, which included his 97-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter. It was his fourth kickoff-return score of the year and the fifth of his career as he tied both the K-State and Big 12 records. The senior’s 201 kickoff return yards rank second in school history for a game behind his record-setting 221 yards at Texas Tech earlier this season. Burns also blocked a West Virginia punt in the first quarter a week after recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown at Kansas.
Morgan Burns, K-State, KR, Sr, Wichita, Kan.
Senior Morgan Burns scored the game-winning touchdown with his Big 12 record-tying fourth kickoff return score of the season to send the Cats to six wins. Burns returned three kickoffs for 201 yards, which included his 97-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter. It was his fourth kickoff-return score of the year and the fifth of his career as he tied both the K-State and Big 12 records. The senior’s 201 kickoff return yards rank second in school history for a game behind his record-setting 221 yards at Texas Tech earlier this season. Burns also blocked a West Virginia punt in the first quarter a week after recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown at Kansas.
