VERMILLION, S.D. - In his first career start, University of South Dakota sophomore defensive end Tyler Starr earned Great West Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, the conference office announced. In addition, Starr also earned College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) National Defensive Lineman of the Week honors, while Coyote junior punter, Cole Zwiefelhofer earned honorable mention CFPA Punter of the Week honors.

Starr, a native of Little Rock, Iowa, had a game-high six solo tackles, one assisted tackle, one sack, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup in the Coyotes' 37-20 loss at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Air Force.

This is the first weekly and national honors of the season for the Coyotes. Starr was a member of the scout team a year ago after redshirting in 2009. He was named Scout Defensive Player of the Week twice last season and was South Dakota's Scout Defensive Player of the Year.

Zwiefelhofer, a native of Chippewa Falls, Wis., had six punts this past weekend for a 41.7 yard average. He had a career-best 72-yard punt in the first quarter to change field position as the Coyotes were backed up deep in their end. He placed two punts inside the 20-yard line and had one touchback. His six punts accounted for 250 yards.

Zwiefelhofer was named to a number of preseason watch lists including a PhilSteele.com preseason third team all-America selection. He was a second team all-America selection as a sophomore according to Steele and was named Great West Conference Special Teams Player of the Year averaging 43.2 yards per punt which was good for fourth nationally.

The Coyotes return home to host the defending Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national champions Eastern Washington Sept. 10 at 4 p.m. in the DakotaDome.

For more information about South Dakota athletics, check back with www.usdcoyotes.com. Season tickets for Coyote athletic events can be purchased by calling (605) 677-5959.