South Carolina State’s Jawarn Howell, Alcorn State’s Keenan Leachman, Portland State’s Gianni Smith and Penn’s Malachi Hosley were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 10 college football games ending on Saturday.
In addition, Nicholls was named the FCS National Team of the Week.
The five honorees plus honorable mention selections:
FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Jawarn Howell, South Carolina State, RB, Fr., 6-1, 215, Mooresville, North Carolina
A true freshman, Howell carried the ball 27 times for 283 yards and three touchdowns as South Carolina State beat Howard 27-24, knocking the Bison from first place in the MEAC. He scored on his first touch in each half – 48- and 85-yard runs, respectively – also had a 16-yard TD, and secured 10 first downs. In a three-game span, he’s averaged 10.8 yards per carry while rushing for 528 yards and seven TDs.
Honorable Mention: Elijah Burris, RB, Hampton; Bret Bushka, QB, Butler; Kinkead Dent, QB, UT Martin; Trey Foster, RB, ETSU; Jordan Fuller, RB, Holy Cross; Victor Gabalis, QB, Tarleton; Collin Guggenheim, RB, Nicholls; Clifton McDowell, QB, Montana; Tommy Schuster, QB, North Dakota; Kam Thomas, WR/KR, Austin Peay
FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Keenan Leachman, Alcorn State, FS, Gr., 5-9, 185, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
A grad transfer from Northwestern State, Leachman scored on two of his three takeaways and the other one set up the Braves offense for a score as they beat Southern 44-21 in a SWAC West Division first-place showdown. Leachman turned a strip sack into a 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown and scored on an 88-yard pick-six. He added another interception and was in on three tackles, including two solos.
Honorable Mention: Logan Blake, LB, Eastern Kentucky; Daniel Carter, S, Davidson; Payton Edwards, DB, Indiana State; Charles Looes, DL, Dartmouth; Aiden McKinley, LB, Dayton; Kaleb Moody, DB, Harvard; Bryce Norman, LB, Southeast Missouri; Amon Scarbrough, DB, Alabama State; AJ Simon, DE, UAlbany; Christian Sweeney, LB, Colgate; Qua’Shawn Washington, LB, Tarleton; Brendan Webb, DE, South Dakota
FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Gianni Smith, Portland State, PK, Jr., 6-1, 205, Oak Park, California
Smith delivered the big foot in Portland State’s 37-23, Big Sky loss to UC Davis, kicking the two longest field goals of his career – 55 and 51 yards – and a 42-yarder as part of his career-best 11 points. The 55-yarder was the second-longest in Vikings’ history. In addition, he made both of his extra point attempts and averaged 63.3 yards on six kickoffs, including three touchbacks.
Honorable Mention: Damian Alexander, Coverage, Lamar; Jack Berkowitz, PK, Elon; Hunter Dustman, PK/P, South Dakota State; Tyler Ebel, P, South Dakota; Evan Matthes, P, Valparaiso; Hayden Olsen, PK, Tennessee Tech; Riley Stephens, P, Austin Peay; Donovan Wadley, KR/WR, Merrimack; Sean Williams, DB, Dartmouth
FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Malachi Hosley, Penn, RB, Fr., 5-10, 185, Columbus, Georgia
Hosley scored on the longest offensive play in Penn history – a 96-yard run – as part of his 21 carries for 261 yards and two touchdowns in the Quakers’ 23-8, Ivy League victory over Cornell. His other score went for 68 yards, helping him to the third-highest rushing performance ever by a Penn player. The true freshman also caught one pass.
Honorable Mention: Troy Bruce, RB, Lafayette; Eli Gillman, RB, Montana; Carson Jones, QB, Furman; Jaylen King, QB, Gardner-Webb; Richie Munoz, QB, Weber State; Jordyn Potts, QB, Tennessee Tech; AJ Richardson, LB, Norfolk State; Jake Stearney, QB, Colgate; David Walker, DL, Texas Southern
FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week
Nicholls (45-32 win at then-No. 8 UIW)
Nicholls overcame a 10-0 deficit after one quarter to win a first-place showdown in the Southland Conference and end UIW’s 15-game home winning streak. With 23 carries each, Collin Guggenheim collected 153 yards and four touchdowns, and Jaylon Spears 160 yards. Safety Devonte Mathews scored on a 58-yard fumble return and added a 50-yard interception return for coach Tim Rebowe’s program.
Honorable Mention: Alcorn State (44-21 win over Southern); Elon (33-27 win at then-No. 5 Delaware); Robert Morris (21-20 win at Southeast Missouri)
