Nadelman and Nichols Earn Conference Honors
TAMPA, SEPT. 25, 2017 – Following a dominating 43-7 rout of East Division rival Temple on Thursday, No. 18/17-ranked USF (4-0) saw two seniors named American Athletic Conference Players of the Week.
Senior kicker
Emilio Nadelman (Miami) was named Special Teams Player of the Week after setting a conference record and tying a USF mark by going 5-of-5 on field goals in the win over Temple. Nadelman hit from 44, 44, 37, 28 and 25 yards on the night and made four PAT to score 19 points. The 19 points set a new game record for a USF kicker and are the most by a kicker in The American this season.
Nadelman, who has made 15 of his last 16 field goal attempts (with the one miss being blocked), earned player of the week honors for the first time on his career.
Senior nickelback
Deatrick Nichols (Miami) was named the Defensive Player of the Week after posting a pair of interceptions and forcing a fumble as the Bulls' collected six turnovers in the win over Temple. The two interceptions tied Nichols' career high and moved his career total to 10, tied for third-best all-time at USF.
Nichols, who was part of a defensive effort that held Temple to just 85 total yards (the fewest ever for an FBS opponent vs. the Bulls) earned player of the week honors for the first time on his career. He has twice earned all-conference selection on his career and is on national award watch lists for the Bednarik, Nagurski and Thorpe awards.
USF leads the nation in turnovers gained (14), interceptions (12) and turnover margin (2.50) while ranking third in rushing defense (66.0 ypg), 13
th in total defense (263.8 ypg) and 22
nd in scoring defense.
USF will play its first conference road game of the season Saturday as the Bulls travel to Greenville, N.C., to take on ECU in a noon kickoff on CBS Sports Network.
About USF Football
USF finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program's fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls' 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, returned in 2017.
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