• OVC Football Players of the Week - September 21 (PDF)
CO-OFFENSIVE
Kyle Snyder, QB • Sr., 6-1, 209 • Barberton, Ohio • Southeast Missouri
Paul McRoberts, WR • Jr., 6-3, 197 • St. Louis, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
The duo of Snyder and McRoberts helped Southeast Missouri defeat the highest-ranked opponent in school history as the Redhawks knocked off No. 3 ranked Southeastern Louisiana 24-23 on Saturday night. Snyder completed 16-of-31 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 17 times for 95 yards (5.6 ypc). His biggest run of the game came on 3rd-and-10 from the 17-yard line with 12 seconds remaining when he took the snap and rushed 15 yards up-the-middle to the 2-yard line with just seven seconds to go. On the next play he completed a pass to McRoberts for the game-winning score. McRoberts finished the night with seven catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. His other score of the night was a 12-yard completion from Snyder with 8:24 to play in the third quarter that gave the Redhawks a 17-10 lead. McRoberts has caught a touchdown pass in four-straight games and ranks first nationally in receiving touchdowns (6). Snyder ranks seventh nationally in both points responsible for (15.0/game) and passing touchdowns (7) and 12th in passing yards/completion (15.04).
Others Nominated: Jalen Whitlow, Eastern Illinois; Dy’Shawn Mobley, Eastern Kentucky; Josh Barge, Jacksonville State; KD Humphries, Murray State.
DEFENSIVE
Ronnie Vinson, S • Sr., 5-11, 185 • New Orleans, La. • Tennessee State
Vinson picked off a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown with 1:32 remaining in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Tennessee Tech. That score put the nationally-ranked Tigers ahead 10-7 and concluded the scoring for the day as neither team scored over the final three quarters. TSU players have returned interceptions for touchdowns in each of the past two weeks and the team has eight total interceptions on the season, a mark that is third nationally. The team also ranks second nationally in total defense (203.3 yards/game allowed) and fourth in scoring defense (11.8 points/game allowed). Tennessee State has had the OVC Defensive Player of the Week in three of the four weeks this season.
Others Nominated: Robert Haynes, Eastern Illinois; Trey Thomas, Eastern Kentucky; Jermaine Hough, Jacksonville State; Travis Taylor, Murray State; Roper Garrett, Southeast Missouri; Midoho Okpokowuruk, Tennessee Tech.
SPECIALIST
Antoine Johnson, DB • Jr., 5-10, 172 • Washington, D.C. • Eastern Illinois
Johnson blocked a punt at the 12-yard line and recovered it in the end zone in the third quarter to extend the Eastern Illinois lead to 49-7 on its way to a 63-7 victory over Austin Peay. It was the first blocked punt for a score for the team since the second round of the FCS Playoffs a year ago. Johnson also added two solo tackles on defense.
Others Nominated: Connor Rouleau, Jacksonville State; Zach Bogard, Murray State; Spencer Davis, Southeast Missouri.
CO-NEWCOMER
Jalen Whitlow, QB • Jr., 6-2, 220 • Montgomery, Ala. • Eastern Illinois
Whitlow, the transfer from Kentucky, set an Eastern Illinois record for rushing yards by a quarterback in carrying the ball 15 times for 137 yards (9.1 ypc) and two touchdowns in the team’s 63-7 victory over Austin Peay. The previous record had been 134 yards by Joe Davis in 1968. Whitlow was also efficient as a passer, completing 13-of-15 passes (86.7%) for 159 yards and two additional touchdowns. Overall EIU rushed for 413 yards (tying a school record set a season ago) and finished the day with 620 yards of total offense (10th-best in school history). Whitlow currently ranks fourth in the OVC in rushing (70.8 yards/game).
CO-NEWCOMER
Dy’Shawn Mobley, RB • Jr., 5-11, 215 • Powell, Tenn. • Eastern Kentucky
Mobley earned OVC Newcomer of the Week honors for the second-straight week after rushing for 183 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-24 victory over UT Martin. The transfer from Kentucky amassed that total on just 11 carries, averaging 16.6 yards/carry. He scored on touchdown runs of 68, 14 and a career-best 75 yards; the 75-yarder came late in the third quarter and iced the game for the now 4-0 Colonels. Mobley ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards/carry (8.64), 11th in total rushing yards (475) and 23rd in rushing touchdowns (4).
Others Nominated: Connor Rouleau, Jacksonville State; D’Montre Wade, Murray State.