Connor Niles is the GPAC Special Teams Player of the Week after his career day in a 49-0 win against Dordt. Photo / Gene Knudsen

Connor Niles, a 5-11, 185 lb. sophomore wide receiver from Sioux City, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in last Saturday’s 49-0 victory against Dordt College.

Niles had three punt returns for 87 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown return in the second quarter. He has five punt returns for 118 yards so far this season to rank fifth nationally in the NAIA with an average of 23.6 yards per return.

Niles had the most productive game of his collegiate career in last Saturday’s win at Dordt. Aside from his punt return exploits, Niles had six pass receptions for a career-high 172 yards and three touchdowns. He caught touchdown passes of 27, 45, and 59 yards from Ryan Kasdorf in the first half.

Niles has 20 receptions for 328 yards and five touchdowns so far this season to rank ninth in the NAIA with averages of 6.7 receptions and 109.3 reception yards per game. He is seventh in the nation in scoring with an average of 12.0 points per game.

Morningside (3-0) will host the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (2-0) at 6:04 p.m. on Thursday at Elwood Olsen Stadium in a classic matchup between the No. 1-ranked teams in the nation at the NAIA and NCAA Division III levels.