Richmond, Va. – Elon senior Chandler Brayboy was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week and Elon freshman TJ Thomas Jr. was named CAA Rookie of the Week, as announced today by the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA).
 
Brayboy had a historic day at UAlbany Saturday, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in Elon's 30-14 road conference win. The senior became the first player in Elon's FCS history to return two kickoffs for a touchdown in a career, doing so just hours apart. To top it off, he also became only the sixth player in program history to surpass 2,000 receiving yards in a career when he caught a 13-yard pass in the second quarter.
 
After UAlbany drove down the field on the game's opening possession for a 7-0 lead, Brayboy quickly tied it up with a 94-yard return down the sideline for Elon's first kick return touchdown since 2019. In the third quarter, he struck again after a UAlbany touchdown brought the Great Danes within 10 at 24-14. This time he went 93 yards, again down the sideline, for the game-clinching touchdown, sending UAlbany's Homecoming crowd packing.
 
Thomas earned CAA Rookie of the Week honors for the second time in 2024 as he ran the ball 19 times for 138 yards, scoring a touchdown for the sixth consecutive game. It is the third time that the true freshman rushed for over 100 yards this season.
 
Thomas was integral in a six-play, 52-yard drive that put Elon ahead for good late in the first quarter. He ran the ball on each of the first five plays of that drive as Elon went ahead 14-7. The Phoenix went into the break leading 17-7 and Thomas quickly helped Elon extend that in the third quarter. On the first play from scrimmage, he ran 40 yards to set up another score. On fourth-and-one from the UAlbany 8-yard line, he found a crease and punched it in for the 24-7 advantage.
 
With the win, Elon improved to 2-5 on the season and 1-2 in CAA play. The Phoenix will be back in action Saturday, playing at Hampton at 2:00 p.m.