Samford’s Michael Hiers, Jackson State’s Aubrey Miller Jr., New Hampshire’s Sean Lehane and Stony Brook’s Charlie McKee were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 8 college football games through Saturday.

In addition, Chattanooga earned FCS National Team of the Week.

The five honorees plus honorable mention selections:

FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week

Michael Hiers, Samford, QB, Jr., 6-1, 221, Birmingham, Alabama

Hiers’ accuracy was off the charts as he completed 45 of 51 (88.2 percent) passes for 442 yards and four touchdowns, and he also carried the ball 13 times for 50 yards and another TD, in Samford’s 55-45 victory at ETSU. The junior college transfer connected with 11 different receivers while helping the Bulldogs (6-1) improve to 4-0 in the SoCon for the first time since 2013.

Honorable Mention: Michael Brescia, QB, Colgate; Trazon Connley, QB, Texas Southern; Aaron Dawson, RB, Valparaiso; Marques DeShields, RB, Rhode Island; Jalen Fowler, QB, North Carolina A&T; Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin; Geno Hess, RB, Southeast Missouri; Andre Iosivas, WR, Princeton; Cornelius McCoy, WR, Eastern Kentucky; Parker McKinney, QB, Eastern Kentucky; Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Youngstown State; Deonte McMahon, RB, McNeese; Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State; ShunDerrick Powell, RB, North Alabama

FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week

Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State, LB, Sr., 6-2, 225, Memphis

In a 22-14 non-conference win over Campbell which drew a national spotlight, Miller was at the center of Jackson State’s stout defense with 13 solo tackles. Seven of the stops limited the Camels to three or fewer yards, including a six-yard sack and another tackle for loss. The unbeaten, defending SWAC champion Tigers have kept all seven of their opponents under 250 offensive yards.  

Honorable Mention: Darion Bolden, DB, Lindenwood; Kameron Brown, DB, Chattanooga; Tye Freeland, Sr., S, William & Mary; Kavian Gaither, LB, Sam Houston; Patrick Godbolt, DE, South Carolina State; Jonathan Hammond, DE, Davidson; Brent Jackson, S, Bucknell; Cooper Krezek, DB, Morehead State; Eloi Kwete, DE, Northern Arizona; Jeremiah McClendon, CB, Charleston Southern; Trent Whalen, LB, Southern Utah

FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week

Sean Lehane, New Hampshire, P, So., 6-0, 210 (Milford, Mass./Milford)

Lehane’s lethal punting helped New Hampshire to a 40-22 victory over Elon in a matchup of nationally ranked CAA Football teams. He dropped four of his five punts inside Elon’s 10-yard line to be downed at the 1 twice as well as the 4 and the 7. The punt to the 4 led to a safety for the Wildcats. He averaged 44.8 yards per punt, including 56- and 53-yarders.

Honorable Mention: Luke Brenner, KR, Dayton; David Gelb, P, Charleston Southern; Isaiah Gomez, PK, UC Davis; Devin Haskins, CB/ST, Holy Cross; Colt McFadden, PK, Youngstown State; Kaleb Mosley, PK/P, Tennessee State; DC Pippen, PK, Southeast Missouri; Abraham Williams, KR, Weber State; Kole Wilson, PR, UIW

FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week

Charlie McKee, Stony Brook, QB, Fr., 6-0, 197, Oceanside, New York

Making his second career start, McKee was 18 of 21 for 249 yards and connected on three touchdown passes in the second half as Stony Brook rallied past Maine 28-27 for its first win. His CAA team trailed by 20-7 and 27-14 in the second half. McKee’s pass efficiency rating of 232.5 was the best by a Seawolves signal caller with at least 20 attempts in nearly 11 years.

Honorable Mention: Maddix Blackwell, DB, Indiana State; Ryan Butler, Princeton; Jayvion Cole, DB, Cal Poly; Rex Connors, DB, UC Davis; Eli Ennis, LB, Nicholls; Dominic Kibby, WR, Presbyterian; Chaunzavia Lewis, RB/PR, Texas Southern; Gevani McCoy, QB, Idaho; Gavin McCusker, QB, Merrimack; Hayward McQueen III, LB, Western Carolina; Fred Perry, S, Jacksonville State; Reese Poffenbarger, QB, UAlbany; Wenkers Wright, RB, Illinois State

FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week

Chattanooga (41-21 win over Mercer)

Chattanooga won one of the season’s bigger SoCon games by posting a 6-0 turnover advantage against a Mercer squad that entered with a plus-nine ratio. Kameron Brown had a pair of interceptions, including a 53-yard pick-six just over three minutes into the game. Preston Hutchinson passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns, while Ailym Ford surpassed 3,000 career rushing yards with 123 yards and a TD. The Mocs (6-1, 4-0) share first place with Samford.

Honorable Mention: Princeton (37-10 win at Harvard); South Carolina State (26-24 over North Carolina Central); Southeastern Louisiana (31-14 win at Jacksonville State); Southeast Missouri (51-16 win at Northwestern State)