Sun Belt Players of the Week - Block 1

Article By: razorback44

Sun Belt Conference Block 1 Offensive Player of the Week:

Braylon Braxton, QB, Marshall

Marshall junior quarterback Braylon Braxton kicked off the 2025 season with a historic performance, earning Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors after a record-setting outing against Memphis.

Braxton torched the Tigers’ secondary for six touchdown passes on just 22 attempts, leading the Thundering Herd to a thrilling 55-38 upset win over the favored AAC contender. It was less of a football game and more of a track meet in Huntington, as Marshall racked up 374 rushing yards to go along with Braxton’s aerial dominance.

The junior QB displayed pinpoint accuracy and elite field vision, averaging a staggering 22.0 yards per completion. He spread the wealth with surgical precision, connecting with five different receivers for scores and keeping Memphis defenders guessing all afternoon.

Not only did Braxton’s performance light up the scoreboard, it etched his name into the record books, setting a new school mark for touchdown passes in a single game.

It was a statement win for Marshall and a coming-out party for Braxton, who showed he’s ready to lead the Herd and carve up Sun Belt defenses all season long.


Patrick Smith-Young, S, Old Dominion

Old Dominion sophomore safety Patrick Smith-Young wasted no time making his presence felt in 2025, earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors after a dominant showing in the Monarchs’ 34-7 win over Western Michigan.

Smith-Young was all over the field, racking up 6 tackles and picking off three passes to completely shut down the Broncos’ offense. His instincts and ball-hawking ability kept Western Michigan from ever finding a rhythm, as he constantly disrupted passing lanes and forced critical turnovers.

Each of his interceptions helped flip the field in favor of the Monarchs, putting the offense in prime position to build and extend their lead. Thanks in part to Smith-Young’s impact, Old Dominion’s defense looked every bit the part of a championship-caliber unit.

Coming off the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Conference title, Smith-Young’s performance in Week One is a strong sign that the Monarchs aren’t going anywhere. If this is the standard moving forward, ODU’s defense is going to be a problem for the rest of the conference all season

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