NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For the first time in his career, Jaylen King has earned conference honors, being named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week by the association on Monday, Oct. 30. 

King earns the honor after recording 254 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, as the quarterback helped lead Gardner-Webb to a 38-34 upset victory over #13/14 UT Martin. King came up big on the final drive of the game, leading a 16-play, 90-yard drive to score a 10-yard rushing TD with 0:13 left in the contest. The Runnin' Bulldogs also converted three fourth downs on the final drive.

The Folkston, Ga. native showed off his arm as well, finding Jayden Brown for a 71-yard passing touchdown in the first quarter, and also ending the first half with a one-yard strike to Karim Page to put GWU up 31-20 at the break.

Against one of the best defenses in the FCS, King was 16-for-33 with 216 passing yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, King had 17 rushes, for 38 yards with the game-winning rushing touchdown.

This is the first conference honor for King in his career, and the second weekly accolade of any kind. King was named to the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Honorable Mention Team after leading GWU to a 35-32 win over Eastern Kentucky last week on Oct. 23. 

King is the first Gardner-Webb player to earn Freshman of the Week honors since Jayden Brown earned Big South Freshman of the Week on Nov. 21, 2022.

Gardner-Webb heads north for their longest road trip of the season, traveling 715 miles to Smithfield, R.I. to face Bryant in a Big South-OVC contest. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM.

2023 Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week Winners
9/4 - Jacob Horvath, Eastern Illinois
9/11 - Leon Thomas, Charleston Southern
9/18 - MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois
9/25 - MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois
10/2 - MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois
10/9 - Max Dowling, UT Martin
10/16 - Zolten Osborne, Charleston Southern
10/23 - Jordan Gant, Tennessee State
10/30 - Jaylen King, Gardner-Webb