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BOCA RATON – Four rushing touchdowns were not enough to earn FAU QB Jason Driskel Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Instead, C-USA rewarded Southern Miss running back Ito Smith, who rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown in the Southern Miss victory over Texas-San Antonio.
Driskel rushed for 92 yards and four scores in FAU’s 58-28 victory over Old Dominion.
Last week FAU running back Devin Singletary earned co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 133 yards and four touchdowns against Middle Tennessee. Singletary rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns against ODU, but FAU elected to nominate Driskel for the award.
A redshirt junior, Driskel entered the game with five career rushing scores. Against Old Dominion Driskel scored on runs of 11, 39, 13 and 35 yards.
“He did look faster, probably, than normal after he got through the linebacker level,” FAU coach Lane Kiffin said. “That was good to see.”
One media member covering each C-USA school votes on the weekly award.
As prodigious as Driskel was on the ground, the Owls once again struggled in the passing game, completing 13 of his 22 pass attempts for only 97 yards.
Kiffin referred to Driskel’s passing performance as being “Not very good,” adding that improving the passing game would be an emphasis during the current bye week.
FAU struggled all season with its passing game. Daniel Parr started the first three games of the season, but his inconsistency prompted FAU to turn to Driskel for the Owls’ fourth game of the season – a trip to Buffalo.
A starter of 11 games last season, Driskel averaged 144.67 passing yards in his three starts this year. The Owls won two of those games.
Against ODU, Driskel led the Owls to points on their first three drives. After a three-and out on their fourth drive, Driskel piloted the Owls on a 12-play drive that covered 72 yards, culminating in a Buddy Howell two-yard touchdown run.
Driskel added a 39-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes of the second quarter to send the Owls into the half with a 31-14 lead.
FAU is off this week. The Owls face North Texas on Oct. 21.
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