CHARLOTTE - Gardner-Webb cornerback Ivan Toomer was named Big South Conference Freshman of the Week Monday morning by the league office.

Toomer (Homestead, Fla. / Homestead HS) started in the secondary for the fourth time this season, and finished with a career-best six total tackles (five solo), three pass break ups and an interception - his second in as many weeks.

Toomer's 54-yard interception return to the Virginia State 31-yard line in the first quarter set up Gardner-Webb's first touchdown of the game, sparking what would become a 34-13 victory. Toomer also nearly recovered a muffed kickoff return late in the game, and had the first three pass break ups of his career.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound speedster has collected 30 total tackles so far this season (19 solo), which ranks among the best for the Gardner-Webb secondary through nine games.

Toomer starred on both sides of the football at Homestead (Fla.) High before enrolling at Gardner-Webb, and ran the lead leg on Homestead's 4x100m relay team that finished third in the state last spring.