BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Football wide receiver Jonathan Stafford Jr. was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Week for the third straight week, CUSA announced Monday.
It is the third CUSA weekly award of Stafford's career and the third for WKU this season. Stafford is now the first player to win CUSA's Freshman of the Week award in three consecutive weeks, and WKU is the only school to have players win consecutive Freshman of the Week honors. Rodney Tisdale Jr. was named CUSA Freshman of the Week in back-to-back weeks during the 2025 season, on Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.
The true freshman has started his college career strong. He currently leads the team with 332 yards on 36 receptions this season. The 36 receptions put Stafford in a tie for fourth on WKU's freshman receiving list with Jake Gaebler and Marvis Parrish. Only Malachi Corley (73 receptions, 2021), Easton Messer (42 receptions, 2023) and Jack Doyle (37 receptions, 2009) are above Stafford on WKU's freshman receiving records list.
He ranks third among FBS freshmen this season in receptions, and his 36 receptions are third-most by a CUSA freshman through a team's first six games of a season since 2010, according to Stats Perform.
Stafford led WKU with 72 yards and one touchdown on six receptions in the 34-13 win over Missouri State on Thursday at Houchens-Smith Stadium, after posting 10 receptions for 108 yards at New Mexico State the week prior. Both marks against the Aggies were career highs, and the score against the Bears was the first of his career. Stafford's game at New Mexico State marked the first time a Hilltopper player had 10 receptions in a game since Malachi Corley caught 10 passes in a 28-23 win over Sam Houston on Nov. 18, 2023. It was the only 100-yard receiving game for a WKU player this season and the first since Matthew Henry recorded 126 yards receiving in the win over Southern Miss in the 2025 New Orleans Bowl.
The Hilltoppers improved to 1-1 in CUSA play, 2-4 overall and 2-0 at home with the win over Missouri State.
WKU is scheduled to face Sam Houston on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
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