Tusculum University Johnson, Panno named Zaxby's Athletes of the Week

By Press release submission

Oct 25, 2022

Tusculum running back Mekhai Johnson and golfer Nilubol Panno have been named the Zaxby's Athletes of the Week.

Johnson, a graduate student from Dorchester, Massachusetts, totaled 156 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns in leading the TU football team to a 35-9 South Atlantic Conference win over Emory & Henry last Saturday. He accounted for 78 rushing yards on eight carries including a five-yard TD run, his team-leading fifth of the season. He also hauled in a 78-yard touchdown reception, which is the 14th longest catch in school history.

Johnson leads the Pioneers in rushing with 414 yards (8th in SAC), averaging 51.8 yards per game (9th in SAC). His five touchdown carries are tied for fifth-most in the league. He has also made six receptions for 109 yards and a score. His 624 all-purpose yards are the most on the team.

Panno, a junior from Phuket, Thailand, captured medalist honors at last week's Jekyll Island Intercollegiate. She established a pair of school records as she won by one shot with a 36-hole total 141 (T1st in TU history). She fired a three-under par 69 in the final round, which is only the third player to post a sub-70 number.

Panno has a 74.5 stroke average in her three events this fall and has finished in the top-10 in all of them including two top-5 performances. For her efforts, she was named the SAC Women's Golfer of the Week.

The Tusculum University Athlete of the Week Award is sponsored by Zaxby's, located at 3280 Andrew Johnson Highway in Greeneville. The Zaxby's Athlete of the Week Award honors one male and one female athlete each week from an in-season sport.

2022-23 Zaxby's Athletes of the Week

Week

Male Athlete of the Week

Female Athlete of the Week

Aug. 25-Sep. 4, 2022

Tre Simmons (Football)

Brianna Garcia (Soccer)

Sep. 5-11, 2022

Andrew Cantrell (Football)

Emily Coddington (Cross Country)

Sep. 12-18, 2022

Wesley Scott (Football)