AVE MARIA, Fla.- Ave Maria University freshman wide receiver Joshua Jenkins was honored by the Mid-South Conference on Monday afternoon, earning recognition as the Sun Division Offensive Player of the Week. The honor is the first of Jenkins' collegiate career, and comes after an explosive performance in Ave Maria's 34-10 victory over Southeastern University on Saturday night.

Jenkins was joined on this week's Sun Division honor roll by St. Thomas's Kendall Wilson, the Special Teams Player of the Week, and Keiser defensive lineman Victor Alvarez Jr., who was honored as the division's Defensive Player of the Week. The honor is Ave Maria's second of the season, as Roman Newkirk was named Special Teams Player of the Week after AMU's contest with NCAA Division I Stetson University. 

The freshman wide receiver is Ave Maria's first Sun Division Offensive Player of the Week since the end of the 2018 season, when Will Tate was honored after AMU's Sun Division-clinching win over Warner University. Jenkins is the first AMU wide receiver to be honored since the 2014 season, when Travis Makauskas was named Offensive Player of the Week by The Sun Conference following Ave Maria's first-ever win over Southeastern.

On Saturday, Jenkins was electrifying for the Gyrenes, hauling in six catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns. His 158-yard performance was the second-best in school history, trailing only Makauskas' 163-yard effort that earned him Sun Conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades. Jenkins' touchdown receptions came from 54 and 26 yards out, and the freshman added another 48-yard reception that set up another AMU score. In total, five of his six receptions were for ten yards or more.

Throughout the season, Jenkins has been an explosive big play threat for the Gyrenes and quarterback Will Tate. The freshman currently averages more than 18 yards per reception, with 31 catches for 559 yards. Jenkins is just short of 100 yards per game through the air (93.2), and has pulled in five touchdowns in his first six games of college football. 

Jenkins currently ranks in the top 30 in the nation of every major receiving category - receptions, yards, yards per game, yards per catch, and touchdowns. The Miramar, Florida native ranks first in the Sun Division in receiving yards, and second in the division in receptions, trailing only teammate Roman Newkirk by one catch. 

Ave Maria now sits 1-0 in Sun Division play, and will play their first divisional home game next Saturday against the Warriors of Webber International University. Kickoff for Ave Maria's homecoming game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.