K-State RB DJ Giddens (offensive), Kansas CB Cobee Bryant (defensive), Houston RB Parker Jenkins (newcomer) and Iowa State kicker Chase Contreraz (special teams) picked up Big 12 football awards for Week 4. All are first-time honorees.
Giddens became the first player in school history and the 22nd in Big 12 history to rush for 200 or more yards and four touchdowns in a game in K-State's 44-31 win over UCF. The business administration major finished with 293 scrimmage yards, third-most in school history and only behind Darren Sproles’ total of 323 yards against Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game and his 298 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2004. Giddens’ four rushing scores were tied for the third most in a game in school history and tied for the most this season among FBS running backs. His 207 rushing yards were the fifth-most this season by a FBS running back and his 30 rushing attempts were the most by a Wildcat since Alex Barnes rushed 32 times against Texas Tech in 2017.
Bryant returned a fumble for a touchdown and recorded an interception in Kansas' 38-27 win in the Big 12 opener against BYU. His fumble recovery for a touchdown came on KU's second defensive play of the game, as he forced BYU to fumble and then picked it up and returned it for a 22-yard touchdown. Bryant, a liberal arts and sciences major, became the first Kansas player since Nov. 6, 2010 (Tyler Patmon vs. Colorado) to have an interception, a fumble recovery and a fumble recovery touchdown in the same game.
Jenkins is the first Cougar in program history to have three rushing touchdowns in his first start as UH finished non-conference play with a 38-7 victory over Sam Houston. Entering the game, SHSU had allowed just three total TDs (at BYU, vs. Air Force). Jenkins’ three rushing touchdowns in a half matched the program record. The kinesiology-sports administration major is the only Power 5 freshman with three rushing touchdowns in a single game this season and one of three Big 12 freshmen on the season with a 100+ yard rushing performance.
Contreraz knocked through both field goal attempts and was 4-for-4 on extra points to finish with 10 points in the Cyclones’ 34-27 win against Oklahoma State. He nailed a 51-yard field goal, his second 50-yarder of the season, to become just the sixth FBS player this season with multiple 50-yard field goals. Contreraz already has his bachelor's degree and is working on a master's in family consumer sciences.
Big 12 Players of the Week
September 4
Offense: Emory Jones, UC, QB, Sr.
Defense: Jeremiah Cooper, ISU, DB, So.
Newcomer: Emory Jones, UC, QB, Sr.
Special Teams: Ryan Rehkow, BYU, P, Jr. and Gavin Freeman, OU, WR/PR, So.
