• OVC Football Players of the Week – September 8 (PDF)
CO-OFFENSIVE
Zerrick Cooper, QB • 6-4, 225, Jr. • Jonesboro, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Cooper completed 20-of-26 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 30 yards and two more scores as Jacksonville State topped Chattanooga 41-20. The junior completed his first nine passes of the game as the Gamecocks built a 21-3 lead. He had touchdown passes of 39 yards to Jamari Hester in the first quarter and 40 yards to Trae Barry in the third quarter. Cooper ran in touchdowns from 1-yard out in each the second and fourth quarters. For the game he helped direct the Gamecocks to 509 yards of total offense. In the process he became just the ninth player in program history to throw for 4,000 yards in a career (doing so in just 15 games). Cooper ranks first nationally in total offense (389.5 yards/game), completion percentage (76.9%), passing yards (758), second in passing yards/game (379.0), third in completions/game (30.0), sixth in passing yards/attempt (9.72), 10th in passing efficiency (167.8) and 14th in points responsible for/game (18.0).
CO-OFFENSIVE
Chris Rowland, WR • 5-8, 180, Sr. • Nolensville, Tenn. • Tennessee State
Rowland caught 11 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns in Tennessee State’s game at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe Middle Tennessee. In the first quarter he caught a swing pass and outran the Blue Raider defense, going 96 yards for a touchdown. The 96-yard score if the second-longest in TSU history and ranks as the second-longest passing play in the FCS this season. In the third quarter he would add a 60-yard touchdown pass, breaking five tackles before running away from the final defender. It marks the second-straight week Rowland has caught 11 passes in a game. The 202 receiving yards is the 12th-most in a game in TSU history. Rowland ranks first nationally in All-purpose yards (218.00), total receiving yards (374), receiving yards/game (187.0) and receptions/game (11.0) and third in receiving touchdowns (3).
Others Nominated: JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay; Preston Rice, Murray State; Tennessee Tech; Luke Ward, Tennessee Tech.
DEFENSIVE
Nigel Walton, DB • 5-10, 163, Sr. • Atlanta, Ga. • Murray State
Walton picked off a pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown during the third quarter of Murray State’s game at No. 3 ranked Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe Georgia. The senior also picked up a fumble and returned it eight yards in the first quarter and finished the game with three tackles.
Others Nominated: Matthew Gayle, Austin Peay; Steven Crowder, Eastern Kentucky; Marlon Bridges, Jacksonville State; Emmanuel Olenga, Tennessee State.
SPECIALIST
Logan Birchfield, K • 5-11, 183, Sr. • Elizabethton, Tenn. • Austin Peay
Birchfield accounted for 10 of Austin Peay’s 16 points in a 24-16 loss to No. 18 Central Arkansas. The senior connected for 39, 32 and 27 yards, becoming the first Governors kicker since 2011 to convert three field goals in a game. He also added a pair of extra points. Birchfield ranks third nationally in field goals made/game (2.50), 22nd in field goal percentage (83.3%) and 24th nationally in scoring (10.5 points/game).
Others Nominated: Phillip Richards, Eastern Kentucky; Preston Knight, Jacksonville State; Steve Dawson, Murray State; Kendrick Tiller, Southeast Missouri; Kaleb Mosley, Tennessee State; Devin Parker, Tennessee Tech.
NEWCOMER
DaQuon Green, WR • 6-1, 192, Jr. • Tampa, Fla. • Murray State
Green, the transfer from Florida, caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown in Murray State’s loss at No. 3 ranked FBS foe Georgia. The touchdown came on a 60-yard pass play from Preston Rice and tied the game at seven.
Others Nominated: Anthony Shockey, Eastern Illinois; Emmanuel Olenga, Tennessee State; Metrius Fleming, Tennessee Tech.