OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nate Hampton, QB • 6-6, 240, Grad. • Advance, N.C. • Gardner-Webb
Hampton accounted for 395 yards of total offense and six touchdowns (2 passing, 4 rushing) as Gardner-Webb overcame a 35-7 deficit to knock off No. 18/19 Western Carolina 52-45 (including outscoring the Catamounts 24-3 in the final quarter). It marked the biggest comeback in program history and was the first road victory for GWU over a nationally-ranked team since 2016. The transfer from Liberty had 263 yards passing, including touchdown passes of 18 yards and 36 yards. On the ground he carried the ball 28 times for 132 yards (4.7 ypc); he had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and added fourth quarter rushing touchdowns of 16, 7 and 26 yards, the final coming with 1:48 to play to put an exclamation point on the Runnin’ Bulldogs victory.
Others Nominated: Cole LaCrue, Eastern Illinois; Nate Glantz, Lindenwood; Jax Leatherwood, Southeast Missouri; Kendric Rhymes, Tennessee State; Kekoa Visperas, Tennessee Tech; John Gentry, UT Martin
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jamari Young, LB • 6-3, 225, R-Jr. • Temple Hills, Md. • Gardner-Webb
Young had 11 tackles (six solo), a sack and forced a fumble as Gardner-Webb came-from-behind to win 52-45 at No. 18/19 Western Carolina. The Runnin’ Bulldogs fell behind 35-7 in the second quarter before mounting a school record comeback. Young’s strip sack came on third down midway through the fourth quarter and forced a WCU punt on the next play. It was the team’s first road victory over a ranked team since the 2016 season.
Others Nominated: Samuel Robles, Eastern Illinois; Landon Sylvia, Southeast Missouri; James Stewart, Tennessee State; Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech; Shamari Weir, UT Martin
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tre’ Holloway, PR • 5-11, 195, R-Jr. • Washington, D.C. • Tennessee Tech
Holloway accounted for 119 all-purpose yards, including a 53-yard punt return for a touchdown, as Tennessee Tech opened the season with a 65-0 victory over NAIA foe Cumberland. His punt return score came late in the second quarter and put the Golden Eagles up 45-0. That play came two minutes after he caught a three-yard touchdown pass (he had three catches for 45 yards on the day). Overall he averaged 37.0 yards on two punt returns.
Others Nominated: Mason Miller, Eastern Illinois; Anthony Lowe, Gardner-Webb.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
DeVaughn Slaughter, WR • 6-1, 182, Fr. • Indianapolis, Ind. • Tennessee State
The true freshman caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown as Tennessee State topped North Carolina A&T 24-21 in the John Merritt Classic. With his team trailing 7-0 in the first quarter, he caught a pass and raced 82 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Slaughter also added two kickoff returns for 35 yards to finish the day with 117 all-purpose yards.
Others Nominated: Kwan Johnson, Eastern Illinois; Maurice Sims, Tennessee Tech.