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OVC Football Players of the Week – October 30
OFFENSIVE
KD Humphries, QB • 6-3, 225, Sr. • Montgomery, Ala. • Murray State
Humphries completed 27-of-35 passes for 398 yards and five touchdowns as Murray State topped No. 25 Tennessee State 38-31, marking the second-straight week the Racers had knocked off a nationally-ranked team. It marked the senior’s 17th career 300-plus yard passing game. Humphries completed passes to 10 different receivers and did not throw an interception in the win. He had touchdown passes of 25, 52, 39, 6 and 75 yards, the last coming with nine minutes to play in the game which gave MSU a 38-23 lead. This season Humphries currently ranks fourth nationally in completions/game (28.29), fifth in passing yards/game (323.1 yards/game), seventh in total offense (323.3 yards/game), 10th in total passing yards (2,262) and completion percentage (66.2%) and 15th in passing touchdowns (17). For his career Humphries moved into a tie for fourth place in OVC history for total offense (9,886) as well as moving into fifth place in league history for career touchdowns (67).
Others Nominated: JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay; Josh Barge, Jacksonville State; Will Young, Southeast Missouri; Ronald Butler, Tennessee State; Ladevin Fair, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
James Gilleylen, LB • 6-2, 220, So. • Tupelo, Miss. • UT Martin
Gilleylen had four tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown and added a tackle-for-loss, pass breakup and quarterback hurry as UT Martin topped Eastern Kentucky 33-3. The sophomore keyed a defense that limited the Colonels to just 229 yards of total offense (its lowest output of the season); the three points were the fewest points allowed by the Skyhawks to an OVC opponent since 2010. His interception came just before halftime as he picked off a pass and returned it nine yards to give UTM a 21-3 halftime advantage. It marked the fourth interception return for a touchdown by the Skyhawks this season.
Others Nominated: Gunnar Scholato, Austin Peay; Kiante Northington, Eastern Kentucky; Marlon Bridges, Jacksonville State; Toby Omli, Murray State; David Kamara, Tennessee State.
CO-SPECIALIST
Cade Stinnett, K • 6-1, 270, So. • Enterprise, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Stinnett made a pair of field goals, including a career-long of 48 yards, and made five PAT attempts to account for 11 points as No. 2 Jacksonville State defeated No. 22 Eastern Illinois 47-14. The sophomore made a 32-yard field goal prior to halftime and the connected on his career-long late in the third quarter. The 48-yarder marked the eighth-longest field goal in school history.
CO-SPECIALIST
Cameron Sanders, RS • 6-2, 206, So. • Memphis, Tenn. • Southeast Missouri
Sanders returned a third quarter kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown as Southeast Missouri defeated Austin Peay 41-21. The return came after the Governors had trimmed the margin to just 10 points. He is the third OVC player to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season. It marked Sanders second career kickoff touchdown and he now holds the longest and third-longest kickoff returns for scores in Southeast Missouri history. Sanders currently ranks 15th nationally in kickoff returns (26.6 yards/return).
Others Nominated: Kentel Williams, Austin Peay; Keith Wrzuszczak, Eastern Kentucky; Cade Stinnett, Jacksonville State; Tae Martin, UT Martin.
CO-NEWCOMER
Marlon Bridges, S • 6-1, 210, Fr. • Lanett, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Bridges had a team-high nine tackles, including a tackle-for-loss and forced a fumble as No. 2 ranked Jacksonville State topped No. 22 Eastern Illinois 47-14. Bridges helped the Gamecocks defense, now ranked No. 1 nationally (259.6 yards/game allowed), hold the Panthers to just 231 yards of total offense (205 yards below its season average) and 56 rushing yards (129 below its season average). The forced fumble was his fifth of the season, tying him for the FCS lead. Last week Bridges was named to the STATS FCS Freshman of the Year Award Watch List.
CO-NEWCOMER
Jesse Hosket, QB • 6-4, 221, Jr. • French Camp, Miss. • Southeast Missouri
Hosket, the transfer from East Central Community College, was near perfect in completing 20-of-24 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in Southeast Missouri’s 41-21 victory over Austin Peay. The touchdown pass, his 10th of the season, came in the first quarter and gave Southeast a 10-0 advantage. Hosket reached the 200-yard passing plateau for the sixth time in his last seven starts. He currently ranks 29th nationally in total passing yards (1,794).
Others Nominated: JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay; Marico Paige, Murray State; Chris Rowland, Tennessee State.