Tayden Barnes Earns Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week Honors

Redshirt freshman recognized after standout week one performance.

Source: NMSU Athletics (Photo: Courtesy)

NM State exited week one with a win thanks to some big time plays down the stretch of its season-opening bout against Southeast Missouri on Saturday. Perhaps the biggest play of the game came from Tayden Barnes who was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week by the league office on Monday morning.

Barnes, a 5-foot-10 redshirt freshman, served as a leader for the Aggie defense in NM State’s 23-16 victory over the Redhawks. The nickelback finished the game with a team-best nine tackles, including five solo takedowns and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Barnes also came up with the Aggies’ lone turnover when he intercepted a pass from SEMO’s Paxton Delaurent at the Aggies’ 18-yard line with just 37 seconds remaining on the clock as the Redhawks were driving in search of a game-tying touchdown. This was one of three passes Barnes defended on Saturday night – a mark that ties him for first among CUSA defenders through one week of action.

The Amarillo, Texas, native made key play after key play in his collegiate debut, including being involved in a fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter that set the Aggies up on the Redhawks’ 34-yard line trailing by one point with 4:07 remaining in the game. Barnes’ distinction marks the seventh time an Aggie has garnered CUSA player of the week honors. He also becomes just the second Aggie to earn CUSA defensive player of the week recognition – joining Gabe Peterson who did so in 2023.

Barnes’ performance helped the Aggies secure their first victory in a season opener since 2014 and allowed the Aggies to move their home win streak to six games. He and the Aggies will look to extend this streak on Saturday when they play host to Liberty. This week’s game is scheduled to kick off at 8:15 p.m. MT and will air live on ESPN2. Fans interested in attending the game may contact the Pan American Center Ticket Office at (575) 646-1420 or click here to purchase tickets online.

For complete coverage of the NM State football program, visit NMStateSports.com – the official home of Aggie athletics – and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Football), Twitter (@NMStateFootball) and Instagram (@NMStateFB).

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Levi Gwaltney

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