CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Marshall redshirt freshman running back Kevin Grooms was placed on the College Football Performance Awards National Freshman Performer of the Year Watch List, the outlet has announced. Grooms and UAB quarterback Austin Brown were the only two Conference USA honorees to make the list.

The 5-foot-10 Grooms is tied for fifth in C-USA in touchdowns with seven (a team-high six on the ground) and is sixth in the league in rushing at 71.8 yards per game. His 431 rushing yards through seven games ranks eighth among Marshall freshman running backs since 1992.

The Hollywood, Fla. native, who has combined with Steward Butler and Remi Watson to form one of the league’s most dynamic rushing attacks, was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week by CollegeSportsMadness.com following his breakout performance against Rice on Sept. 22. In that game, the Herd speedster rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns (including the game winner), while hauling in a 5-yard Rakeem Cato toss as well to lift the Thundering Herd past the Owls by a score of 54-51 in double overtime.

Marshall (3-4, 2-1 Conference USA) will host UCF (5-2, 3-0) at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan, Corey Chavous and Evan Washburn on the call.