NORMAL, Ill. – A trio of Illinois State football standouts earned College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Weekly Awards recognition Tuesday, as Lechein Neblett, Pat Meehan and CJ Laros were recognized for their performances in the team's 34-15 win over No. 24 Eastern Illinois.
Neblett earned CFPA National Wide Receiver of the Week honors, after catching four passes for a career-high 155 yards and tying a career-best with two touchdowns in the win over the Panthers. His first score came via a 61-yard strike from quarterback Tre Roberson in the second quarter that made the score 14-3 in favor of the Redbirds. The second score came late in the third quarter, when he and Roberson connected again on a 39-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach at 31-13. The 100-plus yard receiving performance was the third of Neblett's career and his first since the team's loss in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in 2012, after he was forced to miss the entire 2013 season with a knee injury.
Meehan and Laros also earned weekly CFPA honors. Meehan was named CFPA National Defensive Performer of the Week and CFPA National Linebacker of the Week, while Laros was named Honorable Mention Punter of the Week.
The national honor is the third for Meehan, who was selected as a national player of the week by The Sports Network a College Sporting News All-Star Monday. Meehan also earned Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, after he led the team with 11 tackles against EIU and set career-bests with two sacks and four tackles-for-loss. Meehan also added a pass breakup and intercepted his first career pass, which he returned for 12 yards late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Redbirds.
Laros set a career-long with a 72-yard punt late in the second quarter and finished the day with a 45.2 yards-per-punt average on six attempts. Laros placed two balls inside the 20 yard line and recorded a touchback in the win as well for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds return to action on Saturday, Sept. 27, at home against Ohio Valley Conference opponent Austin Peay State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., at Hancock Stadium.
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