ST. LOUIS, Mo. – After playing a pivotal role in Missouri State’s first victory of the season, senior return specialist Deion Holliman was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week, the league office announced Sunday.
Holliman delivered his best performance of the season in the Bears’ 28-21 victory over Murray State Saturday, totaling 149 all-purpose yards and a pair of key punt returns late to help spur MSU’s win over the Racers. He logged three big fourth-quarter kick returns, including a 29-yard punt return with just over five minutes left on the clock to set up the Bears’ game-clinching scoring drive.
The Camden, Ark., native also returned a Racer punt 40 yards to put MSU in field goal range earlier in the period and finished with a career-best 80 yards on five punt returns. The preseason All-America choice also eclipsed the 3,000 all-purpose-yard mark for his MSU career, becoming just the eighth Bear to accomplish the feat.
The Valley honor marks the third time in Holliman’s MSU career he has received the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week award.
Up next, the Bears will welcome nationally-ranked Illinois State to Plaster Stadium for a 2 p.m. game next Saturday (Sept. 23).
