Smoke Harris named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week

By Hunter Corneliusen
RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech return specialist Smoke Harris has been named the Blenders Eyeware Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week due to his efforts during Friday’s 24-10 win over UTEP.
Harris returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown during the first quarter of the Bulldogs’ 24-10 win at UTEP on Friday. Harris’ first-quarter touchdown increased the LA Tech lead to 14-0 at the time, giving the Bulldogs all the points they would need on their way to snapping a 16-game road losing streak and earning their first road win since Dec. 3, 2020. The punt return touchdown was the first of his career and the first by a Bulldog since Teddy Veal accomplished the feat on Sept. 2, 2017, in a win over Northwestern State.
Harris has now been named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 2) and CUSA Offensive Player of the Week (Aug. 28) this season. Kicker Jacob Barnes earned Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 11) honors after making three field goals in a win over Northwestern State. The three LA Tech CUSA Player of the Week selections this season are the most since 2020.
Tech is back in action this week as the Bulldogs host Western Kentucky on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Single-game tickets for the 2023 Louisiana Tech football season are on sale now. Fans can purchase tickets online at LATechSports.com/tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.