Sept. 1, 2014
Davidson, N.C.----- San José State University return specialist Tyler Ervin and quarterback Blake Jurich were recognized by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) for their contributions in the Spartans' 42-10 season-opening victory over the University of North Dakota on August 28.
Ervin, a junior from Colton, Calif., was named one of six Punt Returner Performers of the Week. In his first game returning punts for San José State, Ervin returned two punts for 73 yards.
He gave a foreshadowing of things to come in the game with a 33-yard return in the third quarter. On North Dakota's next punt, the 5-foot-10, 178-pounder, exploded past North Dakota's first wave of tacklers and scored easily on a 40-yard return. The punt return for a touchdown was the first in seven years by a San José State player.
For Ervin, it is the third time in his career he is a CFPA National Performer of the Week at his position. In 2012, he was recognized twice as the National Kickoff Returner Performer of the Week.
Jurich, a graduate student from Santa Cruz, was one of three quarterbacks named Honorable Mention Quarterback Performer of the Week. In his first start for the Spartans, he completed 22-of-25 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Jurich led San José State to touchdown drives on the first three possessions, one of which was a 2-yard run to give the Spartans a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
The CFPA Awards program uses empirical formulas to determine the most effective players at their respective positions and how they contribute to their team's overall performance in a game.