LOGAN, Utah – Utah State sophomore linebacker David Woodward was named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Nov. 18, it was announced Monday. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
It is the first time this year and first time in his career that Woodward has been named USU's student-athlete of the week. With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
In the 14th-ranked Aggies' 29-24 win at Colorado State last weekend at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo., the native of Olympia, Wash., recorded a career- and game-high 20 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, to go along with one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
 
Woodward's 20 tackles are the most by an Aggie since 2015, when Nick Vigil accomplished the feat at Air Force, and it marked just the fourth time since 2000 that Utah State has had a player record 20 or more tackles in a game.
 
Furthermore, Woodward's 20 tackles are also tied for the 12th-most this season at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
 
Woodward currently ranks first in the MW and ninth in the nation with 113 tackles (11.3 pg), fifth in the MW in forced fumbles with two (0.20 pg), and sixth in the MW in tackles for loss with 11.0 (1.1 pg).
 
Utah State (10-1, 7-0 MW) will wrap up the regular season with a road game at Boise State (9-2, 6-1) on Saturday, Nov. 24, at Albertsons Stadium. The game, which is set for an 8:15 p.m. kickoff, will be televised live on ESPN, and determine the Mountain Division champion in the Mountain West.
 
Utah State is bowl eligible for the seventh time in the last eight years. Sign up to receive bowl game and ticket updates at utahstateaggies.com/postseasoninfo18.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN'S BASKETBALL – Senior forward Quinn Taylor (Houston, Texas) nearly averaged a double-double last week as Utah State posted a 2-0 home record with a 94-59 win against Mississippi Valley State and a 65-46 win against Utah Valley. Against the Delta Devils, Taylor shot 3-for-3 from the floor, including a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the 3-point line, turning in eight points and adding four rebounds, two assists and one block. Against the Wolverines, Taylor logged his third-career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, while adding one assist and one steal during the game. For the week, Taylor averaged 9.0 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the floor, 50.0 percent (2-of-4) from behind the 3-point line and 80.0 percent (4-of-5) at the free throw line, and totaled three assists, one block and one steal.
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – Junior guard/forward Shannon Dufficy (Preston, Victoria, Australia) led the Aggies with her second double-double of the season last week in Utah State's 88-58 home loss to No. 3 Oregon. Against the Ducks, Dufficy had 14 points and 12 rebounds for her 14th-career double-double, to go along with three assists, three steals and two blocks. In the game, she shot 60.0 percent (6-of-10) from the floor and 50.0 percent (2-of-4) from the 3-point line.
 
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY – Senior Cierra Simmons (Soda Springs, Idaho) placed 133rd at the NCAA Cross Country Championships held last weekend in Madison, Wis., with a time of 21:21.70.
 
VOLLEYBALL – Sophomore right side Bailey Downing (Lucas, Texas) led Utah State in kills last week as the Aggies posted an 0-2 Mountain West road record with a 3-2 loss at Boise State and a 3-0 loss at Air Force. Against the Broncos, Downing recorded a team-best 15 kills and added three digs, two blocks and one assist. Against the Falcons, Downing led the Aggies again with a team-best six kills and added three blocks and one dig. For the week, Downing totaled 21 kills, hitting .119 (21-14-59), while adding five blocks, four digs and one assist.
 
2018-19 Utah State Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 3 – Jordan Love, Football
Sept. 10 – Dominik Eberle, Football
Sept. 17 – Isaac Arturo Arevalo, Men's Tennis
Sept. 24 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 1 – Adam Hendrickson, Men's Cross Country
Oct. 8 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 15 – Jordan Love, Football
Oct. 22 – Corinne Larsen, Volleyball
Oct. 29 – Jordan Love, Football
Nov. 5 – Darwin Thompson, Football
Nov. 12 – Cierra Simmons, Women's Cross Country
Nov. 19 – David Woodward, Football