Holy Cross’ Matthew Sluka, Howard’s Kenny Gallop Jr., North Carolina A&T’s Taymon Cooke and UIW’s Richard Torres were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 8 college football games ending on Saturday.
In addition, Lafayette 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
Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, QB, 6-3, 216, Locust Valley, New York
Sluka racked up 330 rushing yards – the most ever in a game by a Division I quarterback – and three rushing touchdowns – also a career high – in the Crusaders’ 38-35 loss to Lafayette in the Patriot League. He averaged 11.8 yards on 28 carries, scoring from 29, 70 and 4 yards out. He also completed 7 of 21 passes for 85 yards, including one touchdown to produce his 11th career game with at least four total TDs.
Honorable Mention: Hope Adebayo, RB, St. Thomas; Max Brosmer, QB, New Hampshire; Jamar Curtis, RB, Lafayette; Nicholas Dunneman, WR, Georgetown; Ryan Flournoy, WR, Southeast Missouri; Sam Huard, QB, Cal Poly; Dymere Miller, WR, Monmouth; Jared Richardson, WR, Penn; Derek Robertson, QB, Maine; Daniel Sobkowicz, WR, Illinois State; Kobe Tracy, QB, Utah Tech
FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Kenny Gallop Jr., Howard, S, Sr., 6-1, 214, Portsmouth, Virginia
The All-MEAC standout posted a season-high 11 tackles and had a last-second interception to preserve Howard’s 27-23 win over Norfolk State. His pick occurred on the Bison 1 with five seconds left to prevent NSU from going ahead. He had six solos in his seventh career game with double-figure tackles, was credited for a six-yard half tackle for loss and a four-yard half sack, had a quarterback hurry and broke up a pass.
Honorable Mention: Terrell Allen, DE, Tennessee State; Malachi Bailey, DE, Alcorn State; Logan Blake, LB, Eastern Kentucky; Kimal Clark, DB, Central Connecticut State; Kriston Davis, CB, Southern; Owen Gloss, DB, Colgate; Devin Goree, DE, Missouri State; Alex Herriott, LB, Presbyterian; Jon Johnson, CB, Montana State; Va Lealaimatafao, LB, Western Carolina; Tyler Long, LB, Austin Peay; William McRainey, LB, Gardner-Webb; Ozzie Nicholas, LB, Princeton; Victor Tademy, DB, Southeastern Louisiana
FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Taymon Cooke, North Carolina A&T, WR/KR, R-Sr., 6-0, 185, Bluefield, Virginia
Cooke returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the third time this season, racing 91 yards for a first-half score during North Carolina A&T’s 33-10 loss to Richmond in CAA Football. While also matching the school’s all-time record with a fourth kickoff return TD, Cooke added a 15-yard return, a reception and one carry while gaining 108 all-purpose yards. He ranks No. 1 in the FCS with a 41.5-yard average on 11 kickoff returns.
Honorable Mention: Grant Burkett, P, Missouri State; Lliam Davis, PK, Merrimack; Shane Dunning, PK/P, Drake; Aidan Laros, PK/P, UT Martin; Andrew Lastovka, PK, Youngstown State; Tim Lowery, Coverage, Duquesne; Riley Stephens, P, Austin Peay; Jourdan Townsend, WR/PR, Delaware; Grandin Willcox, PK/P, Norfolk State
FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Richard Torres, UIW, QB, Fr., 6-4, 225, San Antonio
With UIW’s starting quarterback sidelined by injury and its No. 2 signal caller struggling against winless McNeese, Torres came off the bench after halftime to rally the Cardinals (6-1) to a 35-24 win in the Southland. While reversing a 24-7 deficit in the final 19 minutes, 10 seconds, Torres passed for three touchdowns and rushed for one. The Nebraska transfer, who went back to his hometown at UIW, completed 11 of 18 passes for 161 yards.
Honorable Mention: Joshon Barbie, RB, McNeese; Jaylen Bonelli, WR, Wagner; Jayce Freeman, WR, Stony Brook; Jordan Gant, RB, Tennessee State; Hunter Green, P, Northern Colorado; Jawarn Howell, RB, South Carolina State; Treyshun Hurry, WR, Weber State; Omari Jenkins, LB, Charleston Southern; Alfred Jordan Jr., WR, Idaho State; Rowan Keefe, QB, Valparaiso; Jaylen King, QB, Gardner-Webb; Joe Neubecker, PK, Marist; Orion Phillips, P, Murray State; Griffin Woodall, RB, UAlbany; Luke Yoder, RB, Lehigh
FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week
Lafayette (38-35 win at then-No. 15 Holy Cross)
Lafayette ended Holy Cross’ 18-game Patriot League winning streak, denying the Crusaders a match of their league-record 19 in a row from 1988-92. Coach John Troxell’s Leopards never trailed in the game while moving into first place and reaching a sixth win for the first time since 2009. Jamar Curtis carried the ball 30 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns, and quarterback Dean DeNobile passed for two TDs and rushed for one.
Honorable Mention: Furman (29-17 win at then-No. 8 Western Carolina); Northern Iowa (27-0 win over then-No. 11 North Dakota); Princeton (21-14 win over then-No. 18 Harvard)
