LSU’s Daniels, ULL’s Trahan and Almendares named LSWA players of week

LAKE CHARLES – Career games by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, ULL defensive back Bralen Trahan and Ragin Cajun kicker Kenneth Almendares resulted in the trio being voted as this week’s Louisiana Sports Writers Association Football Players of the Week, the organization announced on Monday.

Players of the week are voted on by a panel of LSWA sports writers from a ballot of nominees made by school sports information directors.

OFFENSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Result: W, 45-35 at Florida
Stat Line: 23-32, 349 yards, 3 TD; 14-44 rushing, 3 TD; accounted for 6 TDs
Info: Accounted for 6 TDs (3 rushing, 3 passing) in leading LSU to a 45-35 win over Florida in Gainesville. He became the first quarterback in LSU history to rush for 3 TDs and pass for 3 TDs in a game decided in regulation and only the second quarterback to ever do it, joining Joe Burrow who did it in a 7-overtime game vs. Texas A&M in 2018. Daniels completed 23-of-32 passes for a career-best 349 yards and added another 44 rushing yards. He directed the LSU offense that racked up 28 first downs, 528 total yards and punted just once vs. Florida.

DEFENSE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Bralen Trahan, DB, ULL
Result: W, 23-13 at Marshall
Stat Line: 12 TKL, INT
Info: Registered a career-high 12 tackles in Louisiana’s 23-13 win at Marshall. He hauled in his second interception of the year and 11th of his career on the opening drive of the second half. Trahan helped lead the Ragin’ Cajuns defense that held Marshall to just 276 yards of total offense and 137 passing yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Kenneth Almendares, K, ULL
Result: W, 23-13 at Marshall
Stat Line: 3-3 FG
Info: Went 3-for-3 at Marshall including a career-long 52-yarder at the end of the third quarter. Gave Louisiana the lead in the first quarter as he hit a 42-yarder before hitting a 33-yarder in the middle of the third quarter.

Week 1 Players of the Week
Offense: Chandler Fields, QB, Louisiana
Defense: Macon Clark, S, Tulane
Special Teams: Eric Garror, PR, Louisiana

Week 2 Players of the Week
Offense: Quaterius Hawkins, QB, Grambling
Defense: KC Ossai, LB, Louisiana
Special Teams: Devyn McCormick, P, ULM

Week 3 Players of the Week
Offense: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Defense: Jay Ward, S, LSU
Special Teams: Casey Glover, P/KO, Tulane

Week 4 Players of the Week
Offense: Zachary Clement, QB, NSU
Defense: Zack Woodard, LB, ULM
Special Teams: Garrison Smith, K, McNeese

Week 5 Players of the Week
Offense: Javon Antonio, WR, Northwestern State
Defense: Nick Anderson, LB, Tulane
Special Teams: Eric Garror, PR, ULL

Week 6 Players of the Week
Offense: Parker McNeil, QB, Louisiana Tech
Defense: Macon Clark, DB, Tulane
Special Teams: Gavin Lasseigne, K, Nicholls

Week 7 Players of the Week
Offense: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Defense: Bralen Trahan, DB, ULL
Special Teams: Kenneth Almandares, K, ULL