Opta Analyst’s FCS football coverage includes weekly national player and team honors throughout the regular season and will lead toward the annual season-ending FCS National Awards Banquet, scheduled for Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas.
Lafayette’s Elijah Steward, Southern Illinois’ Ben Bogle, Saint Francis’ Mac Plummer and Elon’s TJ Thomas Jr. were selected Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players of the Week for Week 2 college football games ending on Sept. 7.
In addition, Wofford was named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.
The five honorees plus honorable mention selections for the FCS National Awards:
Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Elijah Steward, Lafayette, WR, Jr., 5-10, 179, Galloway, New Jersey
The defending Patriot League co-champion’s go-to receiver hauled in a school-record 15 receptions for 244 yards, capped by a last-minute, game-winning touchdown, in a 40-35 victory at Monmouth. His score came on a 42-yard catch-and-run with 36 seconds left, erasing the Leopards’ 35-34 deficit. Steward produced 12 first downs on the receptions, including on six of his seven fourth-quarter catches.
Honorable Mention: Beau Brungard, RB, Youngstown State; Paxton DeLaurent, QB, Southeast Missouri; Khalan Griffin, RB, Lamar; Targhee Lambson, RB, Southern Utah; Nehemiah Martinez, WR, Abilene Christian
Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Ben Bogle, Southern Illinois, LB, R-So., 6-2, 225, Ponte Verde, Florida
Bogle kept Austin Peay going in the wrong direction, racking up career highs in tackles (12), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.5) to help power the Missouri Valley Football Conference squad’s 31-17 road win over the defending United Athletic Conference champion. His TFLs resulted in 30 yards of losses, with two occurring on fourth down in the second half, ending Governors drives.
Honorable Mention: Blake Gotcher, LB, Northwestern State; Tylan Hollis, LB, Charleston Southern; Rob Johnson, DB, UT Martin; Matthew McClelland, DB, Morehead State; David Meyer, LB, UC Davis; Malachi Wright, LB, Central Connecticut State
Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Mac Plummer, Saint Francis, PK, R-Jr., 5-10, 174, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Plummer’s kicking was perfect he scored 11 points in Saint Francis’ 23-17 win at Kent State – the program’s first-ever over an FBS opponent and the second in Northeast Conference history. He gave the Red Flash the lead for good with a 50-yard field goal – just the fifth of at least that distance in program history – then made 33- and 46-yarders as well as two extra points. He had two touchbacks on six kickoffs.
Honorable Mention: Gerardo Baeza, PK, Jackson State; TJ Cadden, WR/PR, Bucknell; Hunter Green, PK/P, Northern Colorado; Rion Roseborough, DL, Towson
Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
TJ Thomas Jr., Elon, RB, Fr., 5-8, 181, Thomasville, Georgi
In his second game, the true freshman needed only 11 carries to rush for 163 yards and help Elon roll past North Carolina Central 41-19. He highlighted the CAA team’s road win with a 74-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He’s the first Elon freshman since 2018 to surpass 100 rushing yards in a game.
Honorable Mention: Josh Anglin, LB, North Alabama; Ian Duarte, WR, Idaho State; Elijah Owens, QB, Indiana State; Czavian Tassett, QB, Southern
Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week
Wofford (26-19 win at then-No. 14 Richmond)
The Terriers, picked eighth out of nine teams in the Southern Conference’s preseason poll, have opened the 2024 campaign with back-to-back road wins over 2023 playoff qualifiers (also Gardner-Webb on Aug. 31). Redshirt freshman Amari Odom passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense had four interceptions, including cornerback Amir Annoor with a pair. Coach Shawn Watson’s squad has responded to an 0-9 start last season with four straight wins since last November.
Honorable Mention: Drake (35-32 OT win at Eastern Washington); Idaho (17-13 win at Wyoming); Saint Francis (23-17 win at Kent State); Southern Utah (27-24 OT win at UTEP)
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