FIU’s Richard Leonard wins C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for second week in a row

After the weekly vote of media, Conference USA announced that redshirt junior cornerback Richard Leonard was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Leonard is the first back-to-back C-USA weekly defensive award winner since Houston linebacker Wayne Rogers on Oct. 23 and 30, 2000.

In FIU’s 38-10 win against FAU on Thursday, Leonard ended the Owls’ two best second-half scoring threats. First, his 100-yard fumble return expanded FIU’s lead to 24-10 in the third quarter. Then, his fourth-quarter end-zone interception maintained that lead. Leonard also had four pass breakups.

The College Football Performance Awards gave Leonard an Honorable Mention as national Defensive Back of the Week. Leonard won the award after two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, against Alabama-Birmingham.

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 9:01 PM with the headline "FIU’s Richard Leonard wins C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for second week in a row."