WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ- Monmouth University quarterback Tony Muskett (Springfield, VA/West Springfield) has been named STATS PERFORM FCS National Freshman of the Week after leading the Hawks to a win over No. 7 Kennesaw State and the 2020-21 Big South Championship.
 
Muskett, starting in his first collegiate game, threw for 290 yards and had as many touchdowns as incompletions as the Hawks dominated the Owls for their second consecutive conference title. The true freshman threw a career-high four touchdown passes and completed 18 of 22 passes. He led the Hawks to a 35-3 lead over Kennesaw, in part thanks to a 21-point second quarter that included a 72 yard touchdown pass to Terrance Greene Jr. In the end, Greene HR and Lonnie Moore IV each went over 100 yards receiving, the first time since the 2019 regular season finale that MU had two players eclipse the century mark in reception yards.
 
He has directed the Big South's most explosive offense, averaging 41.7 points per game which is first in the conference and fifth in the NCAA. The Springfield, VA native's 170.8 passing efficiency ranks second among all FCS players and he second in the Big South in total offense. Muskett has now thrown a conference-leading nine touchdowns in his first three games for the Hawks. He has found a way to get the ball into his explosive playmakers' hands, with his 14.5 yards per pass ranking sixth in the NCAA.
 
The Hawks, which were recently ranked 11^th in the nation by Athlon Sports, finished the spring regular season with a 3-0 record. Monmouth will find out its NCAA Playoff First Round opponent on Sunday when ESPNU releases the pairings during the selection show.
 
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