|
2012 Division FCS Players of the Week
|
| Week/Side
|
Player |
Position
|
School |
| Week 12-Offense |
Mike Colvin |
QB |
Lehigh |
|
In what would be his last collegiate game, Colvin picked up game MVP honors
in college football's longest-played rivalry between Lehigh and Lafayette. The
senior completed 25-of-41 passes for 362 yards and four touchdowns and rushed
for a career-high 82 yards and one touchdown. As the Mountain Hawks outscored
Lafayette, 21-0, in the second half, Colvin threw two of his touchdown passes
and scored his rushing touchdown, and the Mountain Hawks went on to post a
38-21 victory in the 148th meeting of the Patriot League schools.
|
| 12-Defense-I |
Joseph LeBeau |
DE |
Jackson State |
|
LeBeau, who has been one of the Southwestern Athletic Conference's top pass
rushers this season, played a major role in his team's 37-11 victory over
Alcorn State. He totaled a game-high 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two
sacks and one quarterback hurry.
|
| Defense-II |
Chris Loveless |
DE |
McNeese State |
|
The junior set a school record and tied a Southland Conference mark with
three fumble recoveries. In fact, Lamar's first three possessions of the
contest all resulted in fumbles recovered by Loveless. He added five total
tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss in the Cowboys' first shutout over
a conference foe since 2000.
|
| 12-Special Teams |
Walter Powell |
WR/RS |
Murray State |
|
The junior set a FCS record with a 100-yard punt return for a touchdown
early in the second quarter to give his team a 14-3 lead. He was equally
dangerous returning kickoffs, bringing back his first one 83 yards to set up
Murray State's first touchdown of the game. He finished the contest with two
punt returns for 117 yards and three kickoff returns for 134 yards. As if his
special teams play wasn't enough, he added four receptions for 51 yards to
finish the day with 302 all-purpose yards.
|
| 12-Freshman |
Nigel Jones |
RB |
Maine |
|
The freshman carried the ball 15 times for 182 yards - averaging 12.1 yards
per carry - and two touchdowns in Maine's 55-6 victory over Rhode Island. He
scored a touchdown from 18 yards out in the first quarter and capped off his
performance with an 82-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
|
| Week 11-Offense |
Darian Stone |
QB |
Tennessee Tech |
|
He completed 16-of-29 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns and carried
the ball 25 times for 190 yards. His 467 yards of offense were the second-most
in school history and he tied the program record for rushing yards by a
quarterback. With his team trailing 31-17 in the fourth quarter, Stone
engineered three scoring drives, including his final touchdown throw - a 79-
yard bomb to Ryan Tilghman - with 1:10 left to give Tech a 38-31 lead.
|
| 11-Defense |
Nick Sigmon |
LB |
Liberty |
|
Sigmon might be just a sophomore, but on Senior Day, when his team needed
a win more than ever, he had one of the best games of his career. The sophomore
totaled nine tackles (eight solo), two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one
interception and one pass breakup, helping Liberty take down Stony Brook,
28-14.
|
| 11-Special Teams-1 |
D'Vonte Graham |
DB |
North Carolina A&T |
|
Graham totaled two blocked field goals and scored off a fumble as North
Carolina A&T beat South Carolina State, 17-7, in the Mid-Eastern Athletic
Conference. The critical blocked field goals occurred in the first half and
kept the Aggies within seven points. He scored off a 10-yard fumble recovery in
the fourth quarter and had one pass breakup as the Aggies defeated South
Carolina State for the first time in 12 years.
|
| Special Teams-II |
Chase Varnadore |
PK |
Florida A&M |
|
Varnador tied a school record and the 2012 FCS single-game high with five
field goals, as Florida A&M picked up a 22-21 MEAC victory over North Carolina
Central in the program's 125th anniversary Homecoming game. The sophomore
connected from 19, 17, 22, 17 and 36 yards, and his final and longest kick of
the contest proved to be the game-winner with 2:00 remaining.
|
| 11-Freshman |
Dallas Kessman |
RB |
San Diego |
|
Kessman rushed for a career-high 190 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns
in 41-28 win over Morehead State. He also had three catches for 13 yards,
finishing with 203 all-purpose yards.
|
| Week 10-Offense-I |
Derek Carr |
QB |
UT Martin |
|
Carr picked up his second Sports Network FCS Player of the Week selection
after throwing for seven touchdowns against Jacksonville State. The senior
completed 28-of-43 passes for 402 yards and no interceptions in a 49-47
victory, which kept the Skyhawks in a first-place tie in the Ohio Valley
Conference.
|
| Offense-II |
Gavin McCarney |
QB |
Colgate |
|
In a 65-41 dismantling of Lafayette, he set school single- game records for
total offense in a game (512 yards) and rushing yards by a quarterback with
288. His 1,010 rushing yards this season and 12 consecutive games with a
touchdown pass also are new school records. McCarney scored three times on the
ground and completed 13-of-17 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
|
| 10-Defense |
Caleb Schaffitzel |
S |
Missouri State |
|
He intercepted NDSU quarterback Brock Jensen two times, the first on the
MSU goal line which he returned 100 yards for a touchdown, giving his team an
early 7-0 lead. He became the fifth player in Missouri Valley Football
Conference history - and second this year - to record a 100-yard interception
return for a touchdown. In the second quarter, he intercepted Jensen again for
27 yards, making it two straight games that he has recorded multiple
interceptions, and it was his fifth interception in the last three games. The
sophomore also added 10 tackles and one tackle for a loss, while Missouri
State's defense held the No. 1-ranked Bison to just 84 yards of offense.
|
| 10-Special Teams |
Dominic Gunn |
WR/RS |
Northern Colorado |
|
Gunn helped Northern Colorado earn its first road win since the 2010
regular- season finale with an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third
quarter, sparking a come-from-behind 32-28 victory at Portland State. The
senior totaled five punt returns for 107 yards.
|
| 10-Freshman-I |
Jake Huston |
RB |
Valparaiso |
|
He carried the ball 28 times for 248 yards and three touchdowns, caught
three passes for 52 yards and added three punt returns for 23 yards to finish
with 323 all- purpose yards. It was the best total yardage mark by a Pioneer
Football League running back this season as well as the second-highest single-
game rushing total in Crusaders history.
|
| Freshman-II |
Sean Price |
WR |
Appalachian State |
|
In a 31-28 victory at Georgia Southern, he caught seven passes for 231
yards and one touchdown. Price set new Appalachian State freshman records for
receiving yards in a game and 100-yard receiving games in a season (five). He
averaged 33 yards per reception, and his 231-yard effort is the highest among
FCS freshmen this year and the second-best performance among Southern
Conference wide receivers this season.
|
| Week 9-Offense-I |
De'Auntre Smiley |
QB |
Prairie View A&M |
|
The sophomore threw for four touchdowns, completing 29-of-38 passes for 398
yards, and carried the ball 14 times for 170 yards and one touchdown.
Offensively, the Panthers finished with 645 yards (398 passing, 247 rushing) as
Smiley guided the Panthers over the 500-yard mark for the third straight week.
|
| Offense-II |
Rob Hollomon |
RB |
Central Connecticut State |
|
The sophomore totaled 287 yards from scrimmage, including 207 yards on the
ground, in a 32-30, come-from-behind victory over Saint Francis (Pa.). The Kent
State transfer carried the ball 24 times, added two receptions for 80 yards and
finished with three touchdowns in the win. Hollomon not only owns the top two
individual rushing performances in Northeast Conference play this season, but
he also joins the company of former CCSU running back Justise Hairston (2006)
as the lone players to eclipse the 200-yard rushing mark in back-to-back NEC
games.
|
| 9-Defense |
Ian Sluss |
LB |
Portland State |
|
Sluss was a one-man wrecking machine in a decisive, 49-21 victory over UC
Davis in the Big Sky Conference. The senior finished the contest with two
interceptions - one of which he returned 31 yards for a touchdown with 5:32
left in regulation - two fumble recoveries, six tackles (five solo) and two
passes defended in the win. In the fourth quarter, Sluss did most of his
damage, recovering two fumbles and intercepting two passes. With PSU holding a
35-21 lead in the quarter, the senior intercepted UC Davis quarterback Randy
Wright for a touchdown which put the Vikings in control of the game.
|
| 9-Special Teams |
Jamin Godfrey |
PK/P |
Tennessee State |
|
He was a perfect 5-of-5 on field goal attempts, which set a new career high
and school record as well as tied the 2012 single-game FCS high. The junior
connected from 37, 32, 27, 41 and 22 yards and punted four times for an average
of 36 yards. Ironically, Godfrey's 15 points kept the No. 21-ranked Tigers
alive in the contest before his team scored a touchdown with no time remaining
to tie the game at 21. His biggest kick of the game was also the deciding
factor, as he nailed the extra point attempt to give TSU the win and an 8-1
record on the season.
|
| 9-Freshman |
John Weidenaar |
OL |
Montana State |
|
Very rarely do offensive linemen garner individual attention for their
performances, let alone a freshman, but Weidenaar helped anchor an impressive
offensive output in Montana State's 55-10 victory over North Dakota. The local
product played a crucial role in protecting and paving the way the way for
MSU's dangerous playmakers. Weidenarr, who has started every game this season,
helped the Bobcats rush for 436 yards and total a school-record 695 yards of
offense. His unit didn't allow a sack in the game, while running backs Cody
Kirk and Orenzo Davis topped the 100-yard rushing plateau, gaining 160 and 145
yards, respectively.
|
| Week 8-Offense-I |
Greg Hardin |
WR |
North Dakota |
|
Hardin set a new Big Sky single-game record with 333 receiving yards on 12
receptions and scored three touchdowns. It was only fitting that his last catch
of the game - a 32-yard reception for a touchdown - came with 12 seconds left
in regulation, providing the win. The junior also handled kick return duties
for UND, bringing back three kickoffs for 87 yards to give him 420 all-purpose
yards - good for the second-best mark in conference history. His 333 receiving
yards set a 2012 FCS single-game high and he scored three receiving touchdowns
in a game for the third time this season.
|
| Offense-II |
Gavin McCarney |
QB |
Colgate |
|
In a 57-36 offensive showcase versus Georgetown, the junior completed 22-
of-28 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns and ran 15 times for 133 yards
and two touchdowns. McCarney accounted for 510 of Colgate's school-record 707
yards of offense and he helped the Raiders remain a perfect 2-0 in Patriot
League play this season.
|
| 8-Defense |
Dorian Bell |
LB |
Duquesne |
|
The junior spearheaded the Dukes' dominant defensive effort by totaling 14
tackles, four sacks, five tackles for a loss, one interception and a forced
fumble. Bell helped his defensive unit limit Sacred Heart to just 215 total
yards and he now leads the Northeast Conference in tackles per game (11.3) and
forced fumbles with three.
|
| 8-Special Teams |
Laquan Lambert |
DB |
Lehigh |
|
The first-year defensive back/specialist blocked two punts, while Lehigh as
a team blocked four kicks in the game. Lambert's first blocked punt came midway
through the first quarter as he fought off a defender, tipped the ball and
returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. The play not only set the tone, but it
gave Lehigh an early 7-0 lead. On top of that, it was his first career
touchdown. His second blocked punt occurred in the second quarter and gave
Lehigh the ball at the Bucknell 15-yard line.
|
| 8-Freshman |
Jermaine Hough |
DB |
Jacksonville State |
|
Hough had two key interceptions as Jacksonville State handed previously
unbeaten and then-No. 17 Tennessee State a 31-28 overtime defeat. The true
freshman also collected three tackles as JSU picked up a crucial Ohio Valley
Conference, improving to 3-2 in the title race. Hough's first interception -
which was also the first of his career - came on TSU's third play of the game
as he picked off Tigers quarterback Michael German. It led to a touchdown nine
plays later as the Gamecocks took an early 7-0 lead. In the fourth quarter,
Hough intercepted his second pass and returned it 14 yards - just one play
after JSU had fumbled at its own 40-yard line.
|
| Week 7-Offense |
Derek Carr |
QB |
UT Martin |
|
The senior completed 42-of-46 passes for 560 yards and seven touchdowns. In
addition to completing 91 percent of his passes, Carr set an FCS single-game
record for passing efficiency (minimum of 45 attempts) with a mark of 243.78.
He broke the previous record of 220.8 held by Stephen F. Austin's Todd Hammel,
who set the mark against ULM in 1989. Carr also set the program career
touchdown record with 54, while his seven touchdown passes and 560 yards
through the air were also new UTM single-game milestones.
|
| 7-Defense-I |
Johnny Towalid |
DB |
Indiana State |
|
The senior became the first Sycamore to record two interception returns for
touchdowns in a single game, as they defeated North Dakoa State, 17-14. His
first - a 27-yarder - gave ISU a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. Towalid
picked off NDSU quarterback Brock Jensen again in the fourth quarter and went
31 yards for a touchdown, giving the Sycamores a 17-6 advantage. The senior's
first interception broke a streak of 140 consecutive passes for Jensen without
allowing an interception. On top of his pick-sixes, Towalid also had six total
tackles and one pass breakup.
|
| Defense-II |
Jeremy Moore |
DB |
Georgetown |
|
Moore had a career-high three interceptions - one of which he returned 80
yards for a touchdown - while Georgetown forced seven Lehigh turnovers, but the
Mountain Hawks still escaped with a Patriot League victory. Moore's 92
interception return yards moved him into first place all-time in league and
school history with 318 career interception return yards. His three
interceptions were complemented by a fumble recovery and seven total tackles,
and he now has five interceptions on the season, which leads the FCS.
|
| 7-Special Teams |
Bobby Wenzig |
PK/P |
Alabama State |
|
Wenzig totaled six punts for 312 yards for an average of 52 yards per punt.
The junior netted three punts inside the 20-yard line and he had three punts of
50 yards or more, including a long of 67 yards. He ranks No. 2 in the FCS,
averaging 47 yards per punt through seven games.
|
| 7-Freshman |
John Robertson |
QB |
Villanova |
|
The redshirt freshman set a school record for a quarterback, rushing for
189 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw for 151 yards and one touchdown.
Robertson finished with 340 yards of total offense, while 'Nova totaled 527
yards, 376 of which came on the ground.
|
| Week 6-Offense-I |
Casey Brockman |
QB |
Murray State |
|
Brockman was nearly perfect in a convincing 52-14 road win versus Austin
Peay. The senior gunslinger completed 38-of-43 passes for 455 yards and five
touchdowns, on his way to becoming the Ohio Valley Conference's all-time leader
in completions (793) and Murray State's all-time leader in touchdown passes
with 55.
|
| 6-Offense-II |
Aaron Mellette |
WR |
Elon |
|
Mellette tied a career high with 237 receiving yards on 13 catches and
matched a career-best with three touchdown receptions in a 35-23 loss at
Appalachian State. The senior now has 18 career 100-yard receiving games, which
is good for No. 2 in Southern Conference history.
|
| 6-Defense-I |
Keith Pough |
LB |
Howard |
|
Pough recorded 3 1/2 tackles for loss, breaking the FCS career record with
66, while putting forth one of the best performances of his career. Howard
moved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the MEAC with a 17-10 victory. On top of his
record-setting accomplishment, Pough tallied 17 total tackles, 2 1/2 sacks, one
pass breakup and he forced and recovered a fumble.
|
| 6-Defense-II |
Michael Cole |
DL |
Maine |
|
Cole gave Delaware quarterback Trent Hurley nightmares, accounting for five
sacks, for a loss of 41 yards, nine total tackles and one forced fumble as the
Black Bears upset the Blue Hens, 26-3.
|
| 6-Special Teams |
Patrick Murray |
PK/P |
Fordham |
|
Murray was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goal attempts, connecting from 30, 44
and 43 yards in a crucial, 38-31 win over Georgetown in the Patriot League. He
also punted the ball eight times for an average of 47 yards per boot, including
a long of 59 yards, and he sent five of his seven kickoffs into the end zone
for touchbacks.
|
| 6-Freshman |
Kieran McDonagh |
QB |
Portland State |
|
McDonagh played a vital role in helping Portland State end a four-game
losing streak, accounting for six touchdowns in a 77-10 thumping of Idaho
State. The true freshman signal caller carried the ball 10 times for 66 yards
and four touchdowns, he threw for 280 yards and one touchdown - on 15-of-23
passing attempts - and caught a 22-yard touchdown reception.
|
| Week 5-Offense |
Eric Breitenstein |
FB |
Wofford |
|
Breitenstein set a Southern Conference single-game rushing record with 321
yards in Wofford's 49-24 win at Elon. He carried the ball 27 times, averaging
11 yards per carry and scored two touchdowns.
|
| 5-Defense |
Nick Addison |
DB |
Bethune-Cookman |
|
Addison recorded two interceptions in Bethune-Cookman's 38-26, Mid-Eastern
Athletic Conference victory versus Hampton. The sophomore totaled a team-high
11 tackles, a forced fumble and an assist on a tackle for loss. In the third
quarter, Addison picked off a pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown,
giving B-C a 24-10 lead. It was the fourth-longest interception return in
school history, while the victory snapped a two-game losing streak for the
Wildcats.
|
| 5-Special Teams |
Ladarius Vanlier |
RB/RS |
Tennessee Tech |
|
Vanlier returned an Ohio Valley Conference-record 11 kickoffs for 237
yards, including a 94-yard touchdown in the second quarter, against Murray
State. However, it wasn't enough, as the Golden Eagles fell , 70-35. The
freshman also returned a punt for 30 yards and caught four passes for 24 yards.
When it was all said and done, he totaled 291 all-purpose yards. His 237
kickoff return yards account for the highest mark in the FCS this season.
|
| 5-Freshman-I |
Vernon Adams |
QB |
Eastern Washington |
|
In only his second career start under center for Eastern Washington, Adams
completed 25-of-41 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns against Big Sky
Conference rival Montana. Adams had a team-high 54 rushing yards and accounted
for 407 of Eastern's 447 yards of offense.
|
| Freshman-II |
Anthony Gaffney |
CB |
Princeton |
|
Gaffney collected 122 all-purpose yards and two interceptions in
Princeton's convincing, 33-6 road win versus Columbia. The Tigers got off to a
fast start thanks to the freshman's 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to
open the game. Both of Gaffney's interceptions came in the fourth quarter,
essentially sealing the deal for Princeton's first road win since 2009 and its
first victory since Oct. 1, 2011.
|
| Week 4-Offense-I |
Taylor Heinicke |
QB |
Old Dominion |
|
Heinicke broke a number of records in completing 55-of-79 passes for a
Division I record 730 yards and five touchdowns as ODU beat New Hampshire,
64-61, in CAA Football. The sophomore added 65 rushing yards and one touchdown,
also setting a new Division I record with 791 yards of total offense.
|
| Offense-II |
Erik Lora |
WR |
Eastern Illinois |
|
Lora broke a school and Ohio Valley Conference record with 21 catches, for
269 yards and three touchdowns in Eastern Illinois' 50-49 overtime win versus
Murray State. The redshirt junior accounted for all three of his touchdowns in
the first quarter, and totaled 13 receptions for 172 yards after the first 15
minutes of play.
|
| 4-Defense |
Billy Boyko |
LB |
Lehigh |
|
Boyko had a key 39-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving Lehigh
a 28-20 lead against Liberty with 6:06 to play. The senior also had 14 tackles,
including a sack, as the Mountain Hawks held on for the victory.
|
| 4-Special Teams |
Colby Walden |
DB/KR |
Jacksonville |
|
After Jacksonville fell behind Dayton, 17-14, with 1:39 left in the game,
Walden took the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Walden
also added four tackles in the game.
|
| 4-Freshman-I |
Miles Killebrew |
FS |
Southern Utah |
|
Killebrew finished with a career-high 15 stops in his team's 49-42 win at
Portland State. Only four tackles were assisted - 11 were solo - and he also
broke up a pass and assisted on a tackle for loss.
|
| 4-Freshman-II |
James Bradberry |
DB |
Samford |
|
Bradberry picked off two passes in Samford's 25-21 comeback win at Western
Carolina. His first interception came late in the second quarter with WCU
threatening to score on the Samford 4-yard line. In the third quarter,
Bradberry picked off a pass and returned it 22 yards to the Western Carolina
16-yard line.
|
| Week 3-Offense |
Shakir Bell |
RB |
Indiana State |
|
Bell rushed for 349 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries as the Sycamores
took down Drake, 27-10, at home. The junior set a Missouri Valley Conference
rushing record and topped his prior school record by nearly 100 yards (set last
year versus Youngstown State with 256 rushing yards).
|
| 3-Defense |
Dan Sullivan |
LB |
Monmouth |
|
Sullivan led a Hawks defense which forced three turnovers and totaled six
sacks on the day in a 38-17 victory over Wagner. The junior finished with 3 1/2
sacks, 4 1/2 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two quarterback hurries and a
team-leading nine tackles.
|
| 3-Special Teams-I |
Fabian Truss |
KR |
Samford |
|
Truss returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, as Samford won at
Gardner-Webb. Truss finished with three returns for 146 yards and now leads the
nation with a 38.3-yard average.
|
| 3-Special Teams-II |
Bobby Zalud |
PK/P |
Cal Poly |
|
Cal Poly scored its only points of the fourth quarter on Zalud's 51-yard
field goal, which proved to be the game-winner as the Mustangs took down
Wyoming, 24-22. The junior, who also handles punting and kickoff duties, punted
eight times for an average of 42 yards and had a long of 62 yards. All but one
of his five kickoffs went for a touchback.
|
| 3-Freshman |
T.J. Lally |
LB |
South Dakota State |
|
The redshirt freshman came away with four sacks - the most by a Jackrabbits
player in the Division I era - and 10 tackles, all of which were solo. He also
recovered a fumble in the Aggies' final offensive series to seal the win.
|
| Week 2-Offense I |
Zach Zenner |
RB |
South Dakota State |
|
In the Jackrabbits' 31-14 win at Southeastern Louisiana, Zenner rushed for
278 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries.
|
| 2-Offense II |
Marcus Hendrickson |
QB |
North Dakota |
|
In his first career start, Hendrickson, a fifth-year senior, completed 16-
of-25 passes for 294 yards and tied a school-record with six touchdown passes
in North Dakota's 45-37 victory over Portland State.
|
|
| 2-Defense |
Bishop Neal |
LB |
Saint Francis (PA) |
|
Neal had 13 total tackles, one tackle for loss, a key safety and one
interception, as the Red Flash defeated Bryant, 39-28.
|
| 2-Special Teams |
Thomas Warren |
PK |
The Citadel |
|
Warren booted three field goals in The Citadel's 23-21 upset win over
Georgia Southern, including a 37-yarder by just 35 seconds remaining.
|
| 2-Freshman |
Brendon Riddick |
RB |
Norfolk State |
|
The redshirt freshman came off the bench to rush for 150 yards and three
touchdowns on 21 carries in a 31-24 comeback win at Liberty.
|
| Week 1-Offense |
Taylor Heinicke |
QB |
Old Dominion |
|
Heinicke broke personal and school game-highs with 492 passing yards and 41
completions, helping the Monarchs tie a program mark for points in a game.
|
|
| 1-Defense |
Dontavious Johnson |
DB |
Coastal Carolina |
|
Coastal Carolina senior recorded three interceptions and one pass breakup
in the Chanticleers' 29-13 victory.
|
| 1-Special Teams |
Matt Hubbard |
P |
Georgia State |
|
Set a program-best 62.2-yard average on five punts against South Carolina
State.
|
| 1-Freshman |
Sawyer Kollmorgen |
QB |
Northern Iowa |
|
The redshirt freshman completed 18-of-34 pass attempts for 265 yards and
three touchdowns in Northern Iowa's 26-21, season-opening loss to defending Big
Ten champion Wisconsin.
|
| 1-Freshman |
Andre Stubbs |
WR/RB |
Youngstown State |
|
Rushed for 71 yards on six carries, caught four passes for 61 yards and
returned two kickoffs for 40 yards, as YSU defeated Pittsburgh, 31-17.
|
