Davis, Kay, Grambling Headline FCS Week 5 Award Winners
Mercer’s Fred Davis, Sam Houston’s Jahari Kay, Wofford’s Atkins Roberts and Delaware State’s Sy’Veon Wilkerson were selected Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players of the Week for Week 5 games ending on Saturday.
In addition, Grambling State earned FCS National Team of the Week.
The five honorees plus honorable mention selections:
NATIONAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fred Davis, Mercer, RB, R-Fr., 5-11, 210, Fortson, Georgia
Davis set the Bears’ modern-era record with 276 rushing yards and the program high with five rushing touchdowns in a 45-42 win over Samford in the Southern Conference. He averaged 9.9 yards over 28 carries, including scoring runs of 31, 21, 54, 1 and 2.
Honorable Mention: Jaylan Adams, QB, The Citadel; Juwan Carter, QB, Norfolk State; Geremy Hickbottom, QB, Tennessee State; Cole Kelley, QB, Southeastern Louisiana; Talolo Limu-Jones, WR, Eastern Washington; Lonnie Moore IV, WR, Monmouth; Mark Pappas, QB, Morehead State; Lindsey Scott, QB, Nicholls; Xavier Shepherd, QB, Kennesaw State; Breylin Smith, QB, Central Arkansas; Trey Sneed, RB, Fordham
NATIONAL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jahari Kay, Sam Houston, DE, Sr., 6-2, 260, Berkley, California
With Sam Houston held below 300 yards, Kay and the defense led the defending FCS champ until the offense rallied past rival Stephen F. Austin 21-20 in the AQ7. He finished with eight tackles (six solos), including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble late in the game and had two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
Honorable Mention: Jalon Baker, DB, Tennessee Tech; Cole Coleman, DB, Elon; Spencer Cuvelier, LB, Northern Iowa; Russell Dandy, DB, Eastern Illinois; PJ Herrington, S, Northwestern State; Jeremiah Josephs, DB, Duquesne; Kama Kamaka, DE, San Diego; Devon Krzanowski, LB, North Dakota; Titus Leo, LB, Wagner; Jace Lewis, LB, Montana; Clay Patterson, DT, Yale; Jonathan Searcy, S, Bucknell; Darion Slade, S, Campbell; Kordell Williams, LB, McNeese
NATIONAL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Atkins Roberts, Wofford, PK/P, So., 5-11, 175, Mountain Brook, Alabama
Roberts made a lot of big plays in Wofford’s 27-21 SoCon loss at ETSU. With field position so vital, he averaged 38.9 yards on seven punts with four fair catches, three ending inside the ETSU 20, including at the 2 and the 6, and a long of 54. He also averaged 60.5 yards on four kickoffs, and on two of them he stopped the returner with solo tackles in ETSU territory.
Honorable Mention: Brady Buell, P, Houston Baptist; Jack Colquhoun, P, Southern Illinois; Malik Flowers, KR, Montana; Blake Gessner, PK, Montana State; Calvin Jones, WR/KR, Western Carolina; Kwannah Kollie, WR/KR, Delaware State; Max Quick, P, Stephen F. Austin; Jose Romo-Martinez, P, Florida A&M; Jon Sot, P, Harvard
NATIONAL FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sy’Veon Wilkerson, Delaware State, RB, Fr., 5-9, 205, Elkridge, Maryland
Wilkerson has been the workhorse in each of Delaware State’s two wins this season, this time carrying the ball a program-record 40 times for 169 yards in a 33-27, double-overtime victory at Wagner. He rushed for a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter and caught one pass for 11 yards.
Honorable Mention: Noah Bodden, QB, Grambling State; Nazevich Burris, WR, Stetson; James Conway, LB, Fordham; Ah-Shaun Davis, QB, Lafayette; Zevi Eckhaus, QB, Bryant; RJ Martinez, QB, Northern Arizona; Noah Palm, DB, New Hampshire; Dominick Poole, DB, The Citadel; Jackson Waring, QB, Illinois State
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK
Grambling State (37-28 win over Alabama A&M)
Having lost eight of its previous nine games, Grambling State pulled a surprise against the defending SWAC champion, which was on a nine-game winning streak (one was a forfeit). The Tigers erased a 14-0 deficit with 34 unanswered points between the second and fourth quarters. Freshman Noah Bodden had three touchdown passes in his first start and the defense forced five turnovers.
Honorable Mention: Eastern Washington (34-28 win over Montana); Howard (22-17 win over Sacred Heart); Kennesaw State (31-6 win over Jacksonville State); Stephen F. Austin (21-20 loss to Sam Houston)