Whyte lands conference nod after breakout return for TD

Florida Atlantic running back and kick returner Kerrith Whyte Jr. was named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.

The honor followed Whyte’s 100-yard kick return in the Owls’ 52-33 conference win at home over Old Dominion on Saturday night.

It’s the second time the redshirt junior has earned the C-USA special teams honor — both came after games where he returned a kickoff for a score (Louisiana Tech, 2017). Whyte has the school’s only two kick return touchdowns in program history. The 100-yard touchdown is a program record, besting the 98 he had on his previous kickoff return score.

Whyte, who finished with 186 all-purpose yards on Saturday, also scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, complementing junior running back Devin “Motor” Singletary in the Owls’ backfield. Whyte had 61 yards on nine carries and also caught two passes for 25 yards. Singletary went for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

Whyte is the third Owls football player to earn a weekly conference honor this season. On Sept. 10, following the win over Air Force, quarterback Chris Robison and linebacker Rashad Smith were tapped as Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.

FAU is 1-1 in Conference USA and 3-3 overall as it heads into its bye week before a Week 8 game at Marshall on Oct. 20.

JIM RASSOL/SUN SENTINEL Florida Atlantic running back Kerrith Whyte Jr. breaks free for a touchdown in the third quarter against Old Dominion on Saturday.