Central Arkansas’s ShunDerrick Powell, Texas A&M-Commerce’s Max Epps, VMI’s Jack Culbreath and Eastern Illinois’ MJ Flowers were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 4 college football games ending this past Saturday.
In addition, William & Mary 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
ShunDerrick Powell, Central Arkansas, RB, Jr., 5-9, 180, Hoxie, Arkansas
The North Alabama transfer rushed for a career-high 256 yards as UCA topped Abilene Christian 52-17 in a United Athletic Conference opener, marking his second straight game above 200 and sixth in the last two seasons. His 95-yard touchdown run was the FCS season’s longest play from scrimmage, and he added three receptions for 25 yards, including a 14-yard TD. His 281 all-purpose yards came one week after he gained 347 against No. 2 North Dakota State.
Honorable Mention: Chase Artopoeus, QB, Chattanooga; Quincy Casey, QB, Alabama A&M; Jacob Clark, QB, Missouri State; Ryan Connor, QB, Delaware; Corey Fields Jr., QB, South Carolina State; Sam Franklin, RB, UT Martin; Cole Gonzales, QB, Western Carolina; Jalen Hampton, RB, Elon; Walker Harris, QB, North Carolina Central; Lan Larison, RB, UC Davis; Jyran Mitchell, RB, Butler; Shawn Shipman, RB, St. Thomas; Colby Suits, QB, Houston Christian
FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Max Epps, Texas A&M-Commerce, CB, Jr., 5-11, 182, Spring, Texas
Epps helped A&M-Commerce’s second-year FCS program nearly upset Old Dominion in its first matchup against an FBS opponent on the Division I level. He had four solo tackles, a pass breakup and two interceptions in his Southland team’s 10-9 defeat, including one just outside the Lions’ goal line which he returned 46 yards. His four interceptions in only three games are tied for the FCS high, and he’s No. 1 with 150 return yards.
Honorable Mention: Nolan Askelson, LB, Montana State; Brendan Bell, LB, Villanova; Caleb Blake, S, Missouri State; Khalil Dawsey, DB, Delaware; Jacob Dobbs, LB, Holy Cross; Cedarius Doss, CB, Austin Peay; Markeyvrick Eddie, DB, Nicholls; Zareon Hayes, DE, Alabama A&M; Eloi Kwete, DL, Northern Arizona; Isaiah Major, LB, Florida A&M; Ozzie Nicholas, LB, Princeton; Elijiah Williams, LB, Morgan State
FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Jack Culbreath, VMI, P, Sr., 6-4, 235, Charlottesville, Virginia
Wofford’s 16-yard line was its average starting field position after Culbreath punted nine times in VMI’s 17-14 win in a Southern Conference opener. He had a 47.9-yard average, with five punts of 50 or more yards and a long of 60, and five going inside the Wofford 20 (two others were downed at the 21). He also handled the Keydets’ kickoffs and served as the holder on a field goal and two extra points.
Honorable Mention: Jack Burgess, P, Weber State; Ricardo Chavez, PK, Idaho; Stone Galloway, PK, Eastern Illinois; Christian Grubb, KR, Portland State; Jackson Kennedy, PK, Cornell; Dylan Laube, KR, New Hampshire; Maurice Lloyd, KR/WR, Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Sam Renzi, PK, Sacred Heart; Aneesh Vyas, ST, Bucknell; Donovan Wadley, KR/WR, Merrimack
FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
MJ Flowers, Eastern Illinois, RB, R-Fr., 6-1, 195, Cincinnati
After having only four carries in Eastern Illinois’s first three games, Flowers rushed 37 times for 272 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers rallied past McNeese 31-28 for their third win (as many as they had in any of their previous five seasons). Flowers had a 65-yard run as part of EIU’s third-highest single-game rushing total, scored from six yards out in the fourth quarter, and caught six passes for 26 yards.
Honorable Mention: Marqui Adams, QB, Delaware State; Ross Bolger, P, Idaho State; Adam Damante, QB, Northern Arizona; Osize Daniyan, DB, Yale; Dean DeNobile, QB, Lafayette; Carter Glassmyer, LB, Saint Francis; Devaon Holman, DB, Butler; Miguel Rijo, LB, Norfolk State; Aaron Sears, CB, Stephen F. Austin; Tak Tateoka, QB, St. Thomas; Eli Thompson, CB, Holy Cross; VJ Wilkins, WR/KR, Campbell
FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week
William & Mary (28-3 win over Maine)
The defending CAA Football co-champ is off to its first 4-0 start since 2009, with a 28-3 win over Maine marking the third straight game in which the defense didn’t surrender a touchdown. The Tribe allowed only 138 yards, giving them a 123.6-yard average during the three-game stretch. Linebacker Kevin Jarrell contributed a team-high nine tackles and defensive end Nate Lynn had two sacks. Offensively, Bronson Yoder (one touchdown) and Malachi Imoh rushed for 163 and 103 yards, respectively.
Honorable Mention: Chattanooga (47-24 win at then-No. 20 Samford); Cornell (23-21 win at Yale); Houston Christian (34-19 win at Southeastern Louisiana); Montana State (40-0 win at then-No. 10 Weber State); Northern Arizona (28-14 win over then-No. 13 Montana)
