Oct. 6, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford punter Bob Hooper was named Special Teams Player of the Week and quarterback Dustin Taliaferro was named Freshman of the Week by the Southern Conference when the league released its weekly honors on Monday.

In Saturday's 21-6 win at Western Carolina, Hooper punted six times for an average of 44.3 yards per kick. He had a long punt in the game of 54 yards and he placed five of his six kicks inside the WCU 20-yard line.

For the season, Hooper, a native of Nashville, Tenn., is averaging 39.4 yards on 25 kicks. He has placed 16 of his 25 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

Taliaferro completed 14-of-16 passes in the game for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He completed touchdown passes from 22 and 38 yards out to put the game away in the third quarter.

Dustin Taliaferro was named the Southern Conference's Freshman of the Week.

Taliaferro has completed 62-of-93 passes for 640 yards and five touchdowns on the season. The Roswell, Ga., native has completed 66.7 percent of his passes so far this season.

Hooper's and Taliaferro's honors are the first for the Samford football team this season.

The Bulldogs return home for the first time in over a month this week when they play host to three-time defending national champion Appalachian State. The game is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff from Seibert Stadium.