CJ Montes, Nick Gaes, Ricardo Chavez and Johness Davis were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 2 college football games ending Saturday.
In addition, Western Carolina 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
CJ Montes, Fordham, QB, So., 6-2, 190, Pasadena, California
Montes passed for five touchdowns for the second straight game, and this time they helped produce Fordham’s 40-37 FBS win at Buffalo. His 15-yard scoring strike to MJ Wright with 2:32 left erased the Rams’ 37-33 deficit, and completed a 23-of-36, 309-yard performance. The New Mexico transfer added 40 rushing yards and 181.8 passing efficiency for his Patriot League squad.
Honorable Mention: Chase Artopoeus, QB, Chattanooga; Mason Blakemore, RB, Illinois State; Matthew Caldwell, QB, Gardner-Webb; Zach Calzada, QB, UIW; Anthony Chiccitt, QB, Robert Morris; Jermaine Corbett, RB, Stonehill; Sam Franklin, RB, UT Martin; Keylan Johnson, WR, Tarleton; Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire; Maverick McIvor, QB, Abilene Christian; Ryan Morrow, RB, Alabama A&M; Hajj-Malik Williams, QB, Campbell
FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Nick Gaes, South Dakota, DT, Jr., 6-4, 275, Alta, Iowa
Gaes fueled his Missouri Valley Football Conference team to its first shutout since 2019, 24-0 over St. Thomas. He posted seven tackles, including five for 25 yards in losses and three sacks. He also had two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble that a teammate recovered to set up their offense for a touchdown.
Honorable Mention: Jake Brown, LB, Monmouth; Diego Davis, LB, Stetson; Jayelin Davis, LB, Western Carolina; James Green, LB, Tennessee State; Sam Howard, LB, Austin Peay; Keondre Jackson, S, Illinois State; PJ Jules, S, Southern Illinois; Jack Kelly, LB, Weber State; Isaiah Major, LB, Florida A&M; Steve Parker, DE, UIW; Jordan Toles, S, Morgan State
FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Ricardo Chavez, Idaho, PK/P, Sr., 6-3, 195, Los Angeles
Chavez kicks right-footed and punts left-footed, and both feet put a stamp on Idaho’s 33-6 win at Nevada, the Vandals’ first over an FBS opponent since returning to the Big Sky Conference in 2018. He was 4 of 4 on field goals (long of 43 yards) and 3 of 3 on PATs for 15 points, the Week 2 high among FCS kickers. He punted twice, and the kicks went for 60 and 70 yards.
Honorable Mention: Nate Brackett, P, ETSU; Taymon Cooke, KR, North Carolina A&T; Terrell Gardner, WR/Return, Alabama A&M; Devron Harper, WR/Return, Mercer; Perry Shelbred, PK, Stonehill
FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Johness Davis, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, RB, R-Fr., 5-11, 195, Atlanta
The early season’s largest crowd at an FCS-vs.-FCS game (32,518) watched Davis put on a show during his SWAC squad’s 24-14 loss to Tennessee State at the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. The physical runner had 24 carries for 167 yards, including a four-yard touchdown, and caught three passes for 46 yards, while producing eight first downs.
Honorable Mention: Jesse Ehrlich, P, Cal Poly; Dylan Lane, LB, Idaho; Zach Mitchell, WR, Southern Utah; Dom Nankil, QB, San Diego; Breylin Smith, RB, Howard; Leon Thomas, CB, Charleston Southern
FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week
Western Carolina (30-7 win over No. 8 Samford)
The Catamounts ended their 2022 Southern Conference schedule with a nationally ranked win over Chattanooga, and opened it this year with another one against defending champion Samford. Cole Gonzales passed for two touchdowns, Desmond Reid rushed for 170 yards and a TD, and the defense had six sacks, helping coach Kerwin Bell’s 1-1 team to possess the ball for over 41 minutes. The game was delayed by inclement weather in the second quarter for five-and-a-half hours.
Honorable Mention: Fordham (40-37 win at Buffalo); Idaho (33-6 win at Nevada); Robert Morris (31-21 win over Saint Francis); Southern Illinois (14-11 win at Northern Illinois)
