NEW ORLEANS – After helping the University of South Alabama football team become bowl eligible with a career performance in the Jaguars' regular-season finale, Xavier Johnson was chosen the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week Monday, it was announced by the league office.

The junior recorded a career-best 154 yards on 21 carries while tying a school game record with three touchdowns in a 35-28 home win over New Mexico State Saturday that improved the Jags to 6-6 on the year.

After earning their sixth victory, the Jaguars were invited on Sunday to play in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, where they will face Air Force on Friday, Dec. 30, in Tucson.

The three total touchdowns tied a career high set earlier this fall, and they were the most rushing in program history against an NCAA Division I opponent.  Each of the running back's first two scores gave South a seven-point lead and the last — with two-and-a-half minutes left in the contest — provided the final margin of victory.  Johnson added one catch for three yards and also returned four kickoffs for another 93 in posting a game-best 250 all-purpose yards, with the effort helping him move into the top five on the school's season record list for rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns scored.

He also helped USA gain a season-high 282 rushing yards as the performance marked the first time since October 2014 that a Jaguar has gained more than 150 yards on the ground.  

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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