NASHVILLE --- Devon Starling has been named Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for his outing against UT Martin. The honor comes a day after he was named BOXTOROW National Player of the Week.

Starling ignited the Hale Stadium crowd with a 65 yard touchdown run just before halftime. The jaunt capped off a 26 carry, 134 yard performance on Sunday afternoon as Tennessee State claimed a 26-24 Ohio Valley Conference win.

The redshirt freshman leads the OVC averaging 102.8 yards per game and is 17th in FCS play. Starling is the first Tiger running back to average over 100 yards per game since Trabis Ward went for 129.3 yards per game in 2012.

Starling averaged 5.2 yards per carry on the day and ranks second in the OVC at 5.47 ypc. The tailback leads all freshmen in FCS play who have played only spring games in rushing yards.

The Antioch, Tenn. product has totaled 514 yards on the season, which ranks fourth in the OVC, first in running backs who have only played in the spring. His total ranks 11th at the FCS level, 196 yards shy of Western Carolina's Donnavan Spencer who amassed 718 yards in nine games in the fall.

Starling shared the award with Eastern Illinois' Jordan Smith.

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