David Woodward is America First Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week

Utah State junior linebacker David Woodward was named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Sept. 1, it was announced Monday. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
It is the first time this year and second time in his career that Woodward has been named USU's student-athlete of the week. With their sponsorship of the Student-Athlete of the Week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.

The Olympia, Wash., native recorded a career-high 24 tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and a career-high-tying 3.5 tackles for loss, to go along with a career-high two forced fumbles in Utah State's season-opening 38-35 loss at Wake Forest. Those 24 tackles are tied for the second-most in both Mountain West and school history. Additionally, his 24 tackles and two forced fumbles currently leads the nation.

Utah State will open the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, Sept. 7, against Stony Brook at 5:30 p.m., on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. The Seawolves, who are members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), opened their season with a 35-10 victory over Bryant on Thursday.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on Facebook at Utah State Football, as well as on Instagram at instagram.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY – Senior J.D. Thorne (Mendon, Utah) finished first among Aggie men in the 7-kilometer run and second overall with time of 21:50.34 at the USU-hosted Sagebrush Invitational. This is the second-straight season Thorne finished first among Aggie competitors as he earned first-place honors at last year's Sagebrush Invitational. Thorne led Utah State to a first-place team finish with 22 points, finishing ahead of Boise State (39 points).
 
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY – Junior Katie Struthers-Haviland (Lehi, Utah) finished first among Aggie women competitors in the 5-kilometer run, and second overall, with a time of 18:29.40 at the USU-hosted Sagebrush Invitational. Struthers-Haviland led the Aggie women to the team title with 25 points, finishing ahead of Mountain West-rivals Boise State (34 points) and UNLV (75 points).
 
SOCCER – Freshman goalkeeper Diera Walton (Draper, Utah) recorded six saves, including stopping a penalty kick in the 90th minute, in Utah State's 3-0 loss at Utah last week.
 
VOLLEYBALL – Junior middle blocker Bailey Downing (Lucas, Texas) was named to the all-tournament team of the Utah State Invitational, as the Aggies fell to Eastern Michigan (3-2), Xavier (3-1) and Southern Utah (3-2). Against the Eagles, Downing hit .300 (8-2-20), adding 3.5 blocks and one dig. Against the Musketeers, she tallied six kills (6-6-22), 3.5 blocks and one dig. And against the Thunderbirds, Downing hit .333 (9-2-21), while adding one block and one dig. On the week, Downing hit .206 (23-10-63), tallying eight blocks and three digs.