Football’s Leighton McCarthy Named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Leighton McCarthy, a redshirt senior Florida Atlantic University outside linebacker from Apopka, Florida, has been named Conference USA defensive player of the week, as announced by C-USA on Monday.

McCarthy made the move from defensive end, a position he played his first three seasons at FAU, to outside linebacker during preseason. His efforts paid off on Saturday against Charlotte with 10 tackles, including four tackles for a loss three of which, three were sacks. All were career highs. He also forced a key fourth quarter fumble to help preserve the Owls' win. McCarthy was part of two tackles in Charlotte's opening drive. The second was a sack for a loss of nine yards, which was key in limiting the 49ers to a field goal. He tallied three more tackles in the second quarter, helping the new Owls' defense hold Charlotte to 10 first half points.

McCarthy recorded two tackles in the third, the second of which was a sack for a loss of three yards, but more importantly he forced a fumble on the play, which was recovered by fellow linebacker Caliph Brice at the Charlotte 16. Just one play later the Owls scored and took their first lead of the game and never looked back. McCarthy would play a critical role in holding that lead with two more tackles in the fourth including another for TFL, for a loss of one, setting up an Owl sack, followed by a punt on the following two plays.

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