LEXINGTON, Va. - Senior return specialist Michael Rainey-Wiles (Pittsburgh, Pa./ North Hills H.S.) has been named Big South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for games play in the period Sept. 2-4. The league office in Charlotte, N.C. made the announcement Monday.

In VMI's 48-6 win over Lock Haven last Saturday in Lexington, Rainey-Wiles returned four punts for 112 yards, including a 52-yarder for a touchdown in the third quarter.  It was his first career punt return TD and VMI's first punt return for a score since Tim Maypray went 86 yards to the endzone against Gardner-Webb on Oct. 3, 2009.  Rainey-Wiles also had punt returns of 29 and 20 yards that gave the Keydets great field possession Saturday, and he also returned the opening kickoff 31 yards that eventually led to VMI's first points of the game.

Rainey-Wiles becomes the first Keydet football player to win a BSC Special Teams award since Maypray received the citation for the 2009 Gardner-Webb game.

Rainey Wiles also made his debut on the defensive side of the ball against Lock Haven as he made his first start at cornerback after playing three seasons at wide receiver. He was credited for three solo tackles against the Bald Eagles.

VMI continues its season this Saturday night at William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m.