OVC Football Player of the Week Awards presented by TicketSmarter
 
OFFENSIVE
Tommy Ansley, RB • 6-1, 220, Jr. • Palm Desert, Calif. • UT Martin
Ansley posted his second multi-touchdown game of the season, rushing for three scores as UT Martin won its first game of the season, knocking off Chicago State 42-7. The junior carried the ball 16 times for 118 yards, averaging 7.4 yards/carry. He had a 20-yard touchdown run in second quarter that put the Skyhawks on top for good, then added a 28-yard and 1-yard score in the fourth quarter. He was the first UTM player to rush for three scores in the same game since 2024. His five rushing touchdowns lead the OVC.
 
Others Nominated: Tyren Buggs, Eastern Illinois; Cole Pennington, Gardner-Webb; Pops Battle, Lindenwood.
 
DEFENSIVE
Reginald Allen Jr., LB • 6-2, 215, R-Jr. • Palatka, Fla. • UT Martin
Allen made a team-high eight tackles (3 solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss, as UT Martin topped Chicago State 42-7 for its first victory of the season. He keyed a defense that limited the Cougars to just 191 yards of total offense.
 
Others Nominated: Lonnie Burt, Eastern Illinois
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Will Graham, K • 6-0, 200, Sr. • Centrailia, Ill. • Lindenwood
Graham was perfect on kicks, scoring 12 points, in Lindenwood's road game at Stony Brook. The senior connected on field goals of 21, 50 and 38 yards while making all three of his extra point attempts. The 50-yarder was a career-long for Graham and tied for the longest in the OVC this season. He also had seven kickoffs, averaging 62.7 yards/kickoff with four touchbacks.
 
Others Nominated: Baxter Pearce, Charleston Southern; Cade Cox, Eastern Illinois
 
ROOKIE
Baxter Pearce, P • 6-2, 195, Fr. • Victoria, Australia • Charleston Southern
Pearce punted nine times and averaged 40.1 yards/punt as Charleston Southern played at FBS foe Georgia Southern. The freshman had a long punt of 55 yards with two punts downed inside the 20-yard line with zero touchbacks.
 
Others Nominated: none
 
 
Other Notable Performances
Below are other notable performances from the past week.
 
• Cole Pennington (QB, Sr.), Gardner-Webb. Pennington completed 31-of-54 for a career-high 378 yards at Wofford. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 141 yards in the fourth quarter alone, as the Runnin' Bulldogs nearly completed the comeback.
 
• Pops Battle (QB, Jr.), Lindenwood. Battle accounted for 262 yards of total offense and two touchdowns at Stony Brook. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 209 yards while also carrying the ball 14 times for 53 yards and two rushing scores.
 
• Khyair Spain (RB, Jr.), Southeast Missouri. Rushed for 72 yards and 16 carries (4.5 ypc), including a long rush of 44 yards in game at FBS opponent Iowa State.
 
• Nick Reinicke (LB, Sr.), Western Illinois. He tied for the team lead with nine tackles (five solo), including a sack and two quarterback hurries against nationally-ranked Illinois State.
 
• Cade Cox (P, 5th Year), Eastern Illinois. Had three punts travel more than 50 yards against FBS opponent Minnesota. Averaged 44.5 yards on 10 total punts.
 
• Tre Yanez (LB, Jr.), Gardner-Webb. Shared the team lead with eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss at Wofford.