Five Virginia Union University football players have earned Player of the Week honors from the CIAA, it was announced on Monday, September 9.
 
VUU's Justin Smith, Charles Hall IV, Tabyus Taylor, Taj Conway and Jefferson Souza were awarded the honors after Virginia Union's 36-17 upset win over Division I Hampton University on Saturday, September 7.
 
Smith, a senior from Leesburg, Va., majoring in Mass Communications, was named the Food Lion Offensive Lineman of the Week.  Smith anchored an offensive line that allowed Virginia Union to rack up 390 yards of total offense, including 191 yards rushing and 199 yards passing, in their upset win over Division I Hampton, 36-7. The 6-1, 280 senior and the rest of the Panthers offensive line didn't surrender a sack in their season-opening win.
 
Hall, a sophomore from Trenton, N.J., was named the Food Lion Receiver of the Week.  Hall led Virginia Union with 152 yards on three catches with all three going for touchdowns, including an 80-yard pass to score the game's first points. The Trenton, NJ native also had touchdown catches of 28 and 44 yards in the Panthers 36-17 upset win over Division I Hampton.
 
Taylor, a junior from Hopewell, Va., majoring in Elementary Education, was named the Food Lion Offensive Back of the Week.  Taylor rushed for 159 yards on 25 carries with a long of 37 yards Virginia Union's upset win over Division I Hampton, 36-17. The preseason All-CIAA selection also caught two passes, including a 40-yard touchdown from quarterback Khalid Morris, and returned one kick for 58 yards.
 
Conway, a junior from Richmond, Va., majoring in Biology, was named the Food Lion Linebacker of the Week.  Conway led all defenders with 10 tackles in Virginia Union's 36-17 win over Hampton University on Saturday. Conway had four solo tackles and had a tackle for a one-yard loss.
 
Sousa, a junior kicker and punter from Deerfield Beach, Fla., was named the Food Lion Special Teams Player of the Week.  Souza went 4-for-4 in PATs and 2-for-2 in field goals in Virginia Union's 36-17 win over Division I Hampton. As a punter, he had seven punts for 244 yards, averaging 34.9 yards, while kicking off seven times for an average of 64.6 yards per kick.
 
Virginia Union plays host to Lenoir-Rhyne University at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, at Hovey Field in Richmond, Va.