VIDEO: Kevin Snead Interview
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Carson-Newman wide receiver Kevin Snead (Richmond, Va.) has garnered AstroTurf Special Teams Player of the Week honors from the South Atlantic Conference for his performance in the Eagles' 48-14 triumph over Saint Augustine's Saturday.
Snead brought the opening kickoff back 90 yards for a score to open up the game and the Eagles' never looked back after grabbing a lead 7-0 lead 15 seconds into the game.
"This is pretty big," Snead said. "I just have to thank my teammates. Everyone did their job and that allowed me to score the touchdown. Before the beginning of the play, Lonnie Williams just told me to follow him. That's what I did, then I saw light to the sideline, and I went with it."
The senior sprinter's kickoff return for a touchdown was the first for the Eagles' special teams since TraShaun Ward housed one from 92 yards away against Wingate in 2015.
Snead, proclaimed the fastest man in college football last year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, took the kick at the 10 along the boundary right side, halted at the 25, bounced left to the 30 and kicked on the jets to make the SAU special teams unit appear as if they were running in quicksand.
With a 10-yard lead on the nearest defender, Snead pulled back on the reigns as he approached the SAU 15 and coasted into the end zone from there.
Snead also had a 48-yard touchdown catch on the day. He is Carson-Newman's first SAC special teams player of the week this season and the program's first such honoree since Carson Wise (Blacksburg, Va.) earned the accolade for his performance in the Eagles' final regular season game of 2015 against Tusculum.
Snead is the first C-N return man to earn the award since Lonnie Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) brought back the opening kick 100 yards against Brevard in week three of 2014.
Snead and the rest of the Eagles will be on display Saturday at Catawba. Kickoff versus the Indians is slated for 1:30 p.m. from Shuford Stadium. Pregame coverage on the Eagle Sports Network starts at 12:30 with the AEC Tailgate Show on Joy 620 (WRJZ-AM, Knoxville), Mountain Country 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and online at cneagles.com/live.