Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders, Delaware’s Johnny Buchanan, Missouri State’s Montrae Braswell and Houston Baptist’s Ismail Mahdi were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 0 and 1 college football games through Sunday.
In addition, UIW earned FCS National Team of the Week.
The five honorees plus honorable mention selections:
FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Shedeur Sanders, Jackson State, QB, So., 6-2, 215, Canton, Texas
The 2021 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award recipient completed his first 17 passes and finished with a career-high five touchdown passes as defending SWAC champion Jackson State dominated Florida A&M 59-3 in the Orange Blossom Classic. He was 29 of 33 for 323 yards and had a 220.1 passer rating.
Honorable Mention: Dakota Allen, TE, Eastern Kentucky; Naseim Brantley, WR, Western Illinois; Kayvon Britten, RB, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Carlos Davis, QB, Western Carolina; Tim DeMorat, QB, Fordham; Michael Hiers, QB, Samford; Joey Hobert, WR, Utah Tech; Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Youngstown State; Davius Richard, QB, North Carolina Central; Lindsey Scott Jr., QB, UIW; Devon Starling, RB, Tennessee State; Gunner Talkington, QB, Eastern Washington; Zion Webb, QB, Austin Peay; Darius Wilson, QB, William & Mary
FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Johnny Buchanan, Delaware, ILB, Grad, 6-0, 230, Brick, New Jersey
Buchanan matched Delaware’s single-game record with 23 tackles as his CAA Football squad beat Navy 14-7 for its first victory over an FBS opponent since 2007. Nine of the stops were solos, and he also forced a fumble, in helping Ryan Carty win his head coaching debut.
Honorable Mention: Sebastian Benjamin, LB, Saint Francis; Ryan Cole, S, Indiana State; Jalyx Hunt, LB, Houston Baptist; Braxton Hill, LB, Montana; Jordan Jones, DB, Rhode Island; Rassie Littlejohn, DB, Stetson; Lewis Matthews, DE, Grambling State; John Pius, LB, William & Mary; Tyreese Shakir, DB, Portland State; CJ Tillman, LB, Campbell; David Walker, DE, Central Arkansas; Saiku White, DB, Lafayette
FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Montrae Braswell, Missouri State, KR/CB, Jr., 6-0, 190, Avon Park, Florida
Braswell answered a Central Arkansas touchdown with a 98-yard kickoff return for a score – marking his third straight season with a TD return – as No. 5 Missouri State pulled away to a 27-14 road victory. The All-MVFC standout added another 32-yard return as well as six solo tackles and a pass breakup.
Honorable Mention: Brian Bartholomew, PK, Valparaiso; Brock Biestek, WR/ST, Georgetown; Jake Gerardi, P, Southern Utah; Haze Hadley, PR, Weber State; Devron Harper, KR/WR, Mercer; Maurice Lloyd, KR, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Perry Shelbred, PK, Stonehill; Cameron Skattebo, RB/ST, Sacramento State
FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Ismail Mahdi, Houston Baptist, RB, R-Fr., 5-9, 180, Murphy, Texas
Mahdi scored on a 78-yard run and a 74-yard screen pass and had 255 yards from scrimmage as Houston Baptist ended an 11-game losing streak with a 46-34 victory at Northern Colorado. He carried the ball 24 times for 172 yards, the third-highest total in the Southland program’s history.
Honorable Mention: Jake Baumgarte, PK, Southern Illinois; Dante Casciola, QB, Dayton; Janiero Crankfield, RB, Gardner-Webb; Jayden Flaker, LB, North Carolina Central; Joshua Huiet, P, Kennesaw State; Jevon Jackson, RB, Austin Peay; Isaiah Perkins, WR, Towson; Boogie Trotter, CB, Tennessee State; Zach Yaeger, QB, North Carolina A&T
FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week
UIW (64-29 win over Southern Illinois)
A weather delay and stadium power outage didn’t slow UIW in the season’s first matchup of nationally ranked teams. Quarterback Lindsey Scott Jr. accounted for seven touchdowns (six passing, one rushing) and G.J. Kinne won his coaching debut. When No. 9 SIU pulled within 29-19 in third quarter, the 14th-ranked Cardinals responded with three touchdowns in under six minutes.
Honorable Mention: Delaware (14-7 win at Navy); Lafayette (6-0 win over Sacred Heart); Samford (27-17 win over Kennesaw State); William & Mary (41-24 win at Charlotte)