LOGAN – Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton, Joey DeMartino and D.J. Tialavea have earned national honorable mention honors at their respective positions from College Football Performance Awards following USU’s 70-6 win against Weber State last weekend.
It is the fifth time Keeton has received honorable mention accolades by CFPA but a first for DeMartino and Tialavea.
Keeton, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior quarterback from Houston, Texas (Cypress Creek HS), earned honorable mention quarterback performer of the week honors from CFPA as he tied his career-high and school record with five touchdown passes and was 19-of-25 passing for 249 yards. Keeton also carried the ball five times for 25 yards.
Oregon’s Marcus Nariota was named the national co-quarterback performer of the week by CFPA, while Keeton joined Blake Bell (Oklahoma), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M), AJ McCarron (Alabama), Connor Halliday (Washington State), Connor Shaw (South Carolina), Kenny Guiton (Ohio State), Joe Southwick (Boise State), Connor Cook (Michigan State), Sean Mannion (Oregon State) and Brendon Kay (Cincinnati) as honorable mention award winners.
Overall this season, Keeton is 82-of-105 passing for 923 yards and 12 touchdowns, with just one interception. He has also carried the ball 28 times for 187 yards with one rushing touchdown. He currently leads the Mountain West Conference and is tied for first in the nation with 12 touchdown passes. Keeton also ranks seventh in the nation in total offense, averaging 370.0 yards per game. With a pass efficiency score of 187.7, he is ninth in the NCAA and first in the MWC.
DeMartino, a 5-11, 200-pound senior running back from San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Carmel HS/Grossmont JC), earned honorable mention running back performer of the week honors from CFPA. He recorded his first-career 100-yard rushing game as he carried the ball eight times for a career-best 105 yards, including a career-long run of 60 yards. He also scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns against Weber State.
Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon was named the national running back performer of the week by CFPA, while DeMartino joined Paul James (Rutgers), Bishop Sankey (Washington), Michael Gordon (Arkansas State), Jay Ajayi (Boise State), Jordan Hall (Ohio State), Elijah McGuire (Louisiana-Lafayette), Treyvon Green (Northwestern) and Marion Grice (Arizona State) as honorable mention award winners.
On the season, DeMartino has run the ball 21 times for 153 yards and four touchdowns. He also has two receptions for 27 yards on the year.
Tialavea, a 6-4, 260-pound tight end from West Jordan, Utah (West Jordan HS), earned honorable mention tight end performer of the week honors from CFPA as he tied his career-high with three receptions for 18 yards and had two touchdown catches for the first time in his career.
Oregon’s Johnny Mundt was named the national tight end performer of the week by CFPA, while Tialavea joined Wes Saxton (South Alabama), Darion Griswold (Arkansas State), Tyreese Russell (Eastern Michigan), O.J. Howard (Alabama), Crockett Gillmore (Colorado State), Gator Hoskins (Marshall) and Jacob Pedersen (Wisconsin) as honorable mention award winners.
The Aggies are back on the road this weekend as they head to USC for the first time since 1989. The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. (MT) and will be televised nationally on ABC and ESPN2.
For USU football ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or call 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305. Tickets can also be purchased 24 hours a day online.
Doug Hoffman is the assistant athletic director for Utah State University Athletic Media Relations.