NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt cornerback/wide receiver Martel Hight has been named the Paul Hornung Award national Player of the Week it was announced by the Louisville Sports Commission on Tuesday.
The junior, who was placed on the watch list this summer for the honor presented to the most versatile player in college football, found multiple ways to contribute to the Commodores’ 31-7 victory at nationally-ranked South Carolina last weekend.
The Rome, Georgia, resident finished with a career-high four catches for 33 yards, with his first reception covering 18 yards and moving Vandy into the red zone before scoring on its next play to go ahead 7-0 midway through the first quarter. Hight also recorded a carry for a gain of 2 yards and threw the key block springing Jamezell Lassiter free for a 44-yard touchdown run that gave the Dores a double-digit lead for good in the third quarter.
He added a pair of tackles on the other side of the ball, helping Vandy’s defense limit the Gamecocks to just 86 yards rushing in the contest as the Dores shut out their opponent in the second half for the second consecutive week.
His efforts contributed to Vanderbilt’s first win in the series since 2008, and first road victory over an AP Top 25 opponent going back to the previous season when the Commodores defeated the Gamecocks in Columbia.
Hight and the Dores—now 20th in the Associated Press poll, and 23rd in the AFCA coaches’ rankings—will return to action with a 6:30 p.m. matchup against Georgia State on ESPNU Saturday at FirstBank Stadium.