RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky had a trio of players earn ASUN weekly honors for a second consecutive week as linebacker Eli Hairston was named the Defensive Player of the Week, kicker Patrick Nations was tabbed Special Teams Player of the Week, and running back Da'Joun Hewitt was named Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

Hairston, Nations, and Hewitt helped lead the Colonels to a 20-3 Homecoming victory over Tarleton on Saturday afternoon.

Hairston notched EKU's third interception return for a touchdown in three weeks and added five tackles from his linebcker position. Eastern Kentucky's defense surrendered just 237 yards of total offense to the Texans and held an opponent without a touchdown for the first time since a 37-6 win over Tennessee Tech on Nov. 17, 2018. 

Nations converted all four of his placekicking opportunities, making a pair of field goals and two extra points. His 48-yard kick in the third quarter was his career long and the longest made field goal for Eastern Kentucky since 2019. On the season, Nations leads the ASUN in field goal accuracy. 

Hewitt repeated as Freshman of the Week and collected his third such honor of the season after rushing for a career-high 119 yards. The running back averaged over 4.5 yards per carry for the second straight week and becomes the first EKU newcomer to earn three such honors in a single season since Dy'Shawn Mobley in 2014. 

EKU returns to action on Saturday night for its first ASUN/WAC Challenge game against Abilene Christian at 6:00 p.m. at Roy Kidd Stadium. Tickets for the contest can be purchased here.