COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — New Mexico freshman linebacker had the final tackle of the 2014 season for the Lobos. It was a game saver. Now he takes some hardware into the offseason as he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week.
Carson was joined in the conference weekly honors by Jay Ajayi of Boise State as Offensive Player of the Week, and Air Force kicker Will Conant as Special Teams Player of the Week.
Carson, starting in Dakota Cox’s middle linebacker spot, registered a career-high 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a pass defended. In the opening quarter, he deflected a Wyoming pass that landed in the arms of teammate Cranston Jones for a pick-six and a 7-3 Lobo lead.
He then ended one fourth quarter drive with a sack on third down, and on the final drive with UNM leading 36-30, Wyoming had 3rd-and-goal on the UNM 10. Carson tracked down Brian Hill at the UNM 4-yard line for a touchdown saving tackle. The Lobos would hold on fourth down and win the game.
Carson is the second defensive player to earn the honor for the Lobos, with Dakota Cox earning the nod after the New Mexico State game.
Carson wasn’t the only player to earn an honor on Monday morning as Carlos Wiggins was named the College Football Performance Awards National Kickoff Returner of the Week. Wiggins returned two kickoffs for 26 and 97 yards. His 97-yarder for a touchdown broke the Mountain West and UNM career records for kickoff return touchdowns.
He did so despite Wyoming’s best efforts to avoid him at all costs. After five kickoffs away from Wiggins, after Wyoming took a 27-21 lead, Wiggins swapped places with his blocker and caught a kickoff and returned it 26 yards to the UNM 44, setting up Romell Jordan’s 15-yard touchdown at the end of a 6-play drive to make it 28-27 UNM.
After a Wyoming field goal gave the Cowboys a 30-28, the Cowboy instead of short right went deep left, but Wiggins again was able to switch spots and track the kick down. He raced up the sidelines, cut back at the 50 and went untouched for what was the game-winning touchdown in a 36-30 win.