NEW ORLEANS – With a performance in his collegiate debut that helped the University of South Alabama football team to its first-ever victory over a top-25 opponent, Cole Garvin was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Making his first career start — in fact, playing in a game for the first time since the fall of 2013 — in place of an injured Dallas Davis, Garvin completed 16-of-21 attempts for 242 yards and three touchdowns to lead South Alabama to a 42-24 defeat of No. 19 San Diego State.  The sophomore's two second-half scoring passes gave the Jaguars the lead, first with a USA season-long 79-yard throw to Gerald Everett on the second play of the third quarter then with a 20-yard pass to Josh Magee that put the Jags in front for good with 12 minutes to go in the contest.

Garvin's three touchdown passes were the most by a South quarterback this fall, while his 76.1 completion percentage was the highest ever recorded by a Jaguar against an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.

He's the first Jag to be recognized by the Sun Belt since the opening week of the season, when Davis and Roman Buchanan were honored following USA's win at Mississippi State.

South is off this weekend, and will next be in action on Saturday, Oct. 15 when it gets back into conference action with a visit to Arkansas State.  The game will get underway at 6 p.m. (CDT) in Jonesboro.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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