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.
Weber State’s Richie Munoz, Illinois State’s Tye Niekamp, Houston Christian’s Dillon Fedor and Villanova’s David Avit were selected Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players of the Week for Week 6 college football games ending on Oct. 5.
In addition, the North Dakota State Bison were named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.
The FCS National Awards are presented by FedEx.
FCS National Awards (Week 6)
Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Richie Munoz, Weber State, QB, So., 5-11, 215, West Covina, California
Munoz established career highs with 364 passing yards, six touchdown passes and a 247.8 pass efficiency rating in the Wildcats’ 55-48 overtime win at then-No. 8 Montana in the Big Sky Conference. He completed 19 of 28 passes, with three of the TDs going for 50+ yards. His final pass was a 7-yard score to running back Damon Bankston, snapping a 48-48 tie in the extra session.
Honorable Mention: Reagan Andrew, QB, Butler; Autavius Ison, RB, Charleston Southern; Targhee Lambson, RB, Southern Utah; Nehemiah Martinez I, WR, Abilene Christian; Zach Palmer-Smith, RB, Richmond; Darius Perrantes, QB, Duquesne; Joe Pesansky, QB, Holy Cross; ShunDerrick Powell, RB, Central Arkansas; Landon Ruggieri, WR, Bryant; Justin Shorter, WR, Holy Cross; Jalen Walthall, WR, UIW; Jeff Wiemer, WR, Idaho State; Marcus Yarns, RB, Delaware
Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Tye Niekamp, Illinois State, LB, So., 6-3, 240, Normal, Illinois
Niekamp led an outstanding defensive effort as Illinois State cruised to a 45-10 win at Southern Illinois in a Top 25 matchup of Missouri Valley Football Conference teams. He recorded a season-high 11 tackles, including six solos, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He also intercepted a pass, which he returned 20 yards to set up a Redbirds’ offensive touchdown, and broke up one other pass.
Honorable Mention: Brendan Bell, LB, Villanova; Sage Beuchert-Irvine, DE, Norfolk State; Finn Claypool, DE, Drake; Gabe DuBois, DB, Lafayette; Jaxton Eck, LB, Idaho; Aidan Harrison, LB, Western Illinois; Braden Hay, LB, Houston Christian; Hayden McDonald, DB, Columbia; Justin Reilly, DB, Wagner; Donta Stuart, DB, Tarleton State
Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Dillon Fedor, Houston Christian, PK, Sr., 6-0, 170, Henderson, Nevada
The Huskies got a kick out of Fedor’s perfection in a 43-22 win over then-No. 22 McNeese – the 11th-year Southland program’s first ever over a nationally ranked opponent. He was 5 of 5 on field goals, with a long of 45 yards, and 4 of 4 on PATs for 19 points, the 2024 high for an FCS kicker. He also averaged 65.0 yards on 10 kickoffs, including five that went for touchbacks.
Honorable Mention: Ben Barnes, PK/P, The Citadel; Taco Dowler, WR/PR, Montana State; Sam Johnson, P, Valparaiso; Nick Mazzie, PK, New Hampshire; Dekalon Taylor, RB/PR, UIW; Travis Terrell Jr., RB/Returns, Jackson State; Kyle Thompson, PK, Weber State
Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
David Avit, Villanova, RB, Fr., 6-0, 220, Potomac, Maryland
Avit carried the ball 13 times for 183 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-24 win at Stony Brook. Included were 59- and 72-yard scores while the CAA Football preseason favorite reversed a 24-14 second-half deficit. His rushing yardage established the high for an FCS freshman this season, coming one week after he had 160 yards against LIU.
Honorable Mention: Matt Childs, RB, Brown; KJ Chisholm, DB, Jackson State; Tyson Greenwade, RB, Charleston Southern; Trey Hedden, QB, Furman; Jamarie Hostzclaw, RB, Alabama State
Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week
No. 2 North Dakota State (41-17 win over then-No. 7 North Dakota)
The Bison (5-1) were thorough in defeating a rival in the FCS season’s first Top 10 matchup. Cam Miller accounted for 207 yards of total offense and three touchdowns (his 42nd career rushing TD set the MVFC record for a quarterback) before he exited with an injury, but backup Cole Payton came on to throw a 33-yard TD pass to Mekhi Collins on a flea-flicker. Defensive end Dylan Hendricks recovered a fumble and forced another one that was recovered by a teammate.
Honorable Mention: Dartmouth (20-17 win over Penn); Houston Christian (43-22 win over then-No. 22 McNeese); Weber State (55-48 OT win at then-No. 8 Montana); Towson (34-27 win over then-No. 11 William & Mary)
Top Photo of North Dakota State Defense: Tim Sanger/NDSU Athletics
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