Nov. 12, 2007

FRISCO, Tex. - Junior Ladarius Webb was named special teams player of the week by the Southland Conference on Monday morning, making him the only player in the league's history to win all three (offense, defense and special teams) player of the week awards in a season.

"Ladarius is a very talented and gifted athlete. He is one of those guys that can break one and can score every time he touches the ball," said head coach Jay Thomas. "We are very proud of him, and I know that the team is excited for him as well."

Webb's special teams award is his fourth player of the week award from the conference office. The Opelika, Ala. native has won the defensive player of the week award twice, while winning offense and special teams awards once. His award this week came in light of a 96-yard punt return that was a school and conference record, and a mere two yards shy of the NCAA record.

The release from the Southland Conference is below.

Nicholls State's Ladarius Webb completes trifecta with fourth award of the season

Nicholls State's Ladarius Webb has been voted Special Teams Player of the Week in Southland Conference football. He has now been voted the league's weekly all-star on offense, defense (twice) and special teams this season. In addition, McNeese State's Carlese Franklin is this week's offensive recipient while Sam Houston State's Byran Richmond it the defensive honoree. Following is a look at their performances.

OFFENSE

CARLESE FRANKLIN, McNeese State, Sr., WR/KR - 5-11, 180, Kentwood, La.

Franklin caught four passes for 159 yards and a touchdown (47 yards) in the Cowboys' 27-21 win over Northwestern State that clinched the Southland Conference title. It was his fifth 100 yard pass receiving effort on the season, second high in McNeese history. The 159 yards receiving is the seventh highest single game mark in Cowboy history. He also returned four punts for 63 yards (longest 38 yards). Franklin had an all-purpose running total of 230 yards. It's Franklin's second award of the season.

Honorable Mention: Jay Lucas, SLU; Vincent Montgomery, NICH; Chris Poullard, SHSU; Jabara Williams, SFA.

DEFENSE

BYRAN RICHMOND, Sam Houston State, Sr. S, 5-9, 218, Humble, Texas

Richmond led the Bearkat defense with 11 tackles including eight solo stops in a 20-16 win at Southeastern Louisiana. In the fourth quarter, with the Lions threatening with first-and-goal at the two-yard line, Richmond tackled Mario Gilbert on the one-yard line on third down, then stopped Gilbert cold at the one on fourth down to complete the Bearkats' goal-line stand. It's Richmond's second award of the season.

Honorable Mention: Marcus Brown, McN; Kareem Moore, NICH; Jabara Williams, SFA.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ladarius Webb, Nicholls State, Jr., SS/KR, 5-11, 205, Opelika, Ala.

Webb completes the trifecta as he has now been voted SLC player of the week on offense, defense and special teams this season. For the past three games, Webb has had to watch kickers and punters kick away from him, so when Webb actually got a chance to return a punt in the first quarter against Texas State, he made the most of it by taking it back 96-yards for a touchdown. The 96-yard run back was not only the longest in school and conference history, but it was just two yards shy of the NCAA record. Webb also had one kickoff return for 31-yards in the 52-28 win while having the second most tackles on the team with seven solo stops, one for a loss, and a pass break up.

Honorable Mention: Tristan Jackson, UCA; Jeff Turner, SLU; Taylor Wilkins, SHSU.