OFFENSIVE
Antonio Heffner, QB ? Sr., 6-2, 207 ? Memphis, Tenn. ? Tennessee State
Heffner was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season (Sept. 7 was the other) after completing 20-of-28 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in the No. 25 Tigers 34-20 Conference-opening victory over defending champion Eastern Kentucky. Heffner, who also carried the ball nine times for 47 yards (360 yards total yards of offense for the game), threw two of his touchdowns in the second half including a 3-yarder to Ronald Evans early in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers up by two scores. His first touchdown came on a 62-yard strike to Brandon Belvin in the first half. Heffner’s play has Tennessee State off to its best start (4-0) in seven years.
Others Nominated: Bodie Reeder, Eastern Illinois; Tremayne Coger, Jacksonville State; Houston Lillard, Southeast Missouri; Mike Hicks, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
A.J. Davis, DB ? Fr., 6-0, 183 ? Birmingham, Ala. ? Jacksonville State
Davis had a pair of interceptions in Jacksonville State’s 31-3 non-conference road win over Chattanooga on Saturday night. Davis picked off his first pass of the season in the first quarter, setting up a field goal for the Gamecocks. His second pick came in the second quarter; his team turned that interception into a touchdown which gave Jax State a 24-0 halftime advantage. He became the first JSU player to record two interceptions in a game since Russell Green in 2004. Overall the Gamecocks had five interceptions on the game and limited UTC to just 177 total yards for the game.
Others Nominated: Jack Kosinski, Eastern Illinois; Will Werner, Murray State; Nick Stauffer, Southeast Missouri; Larry Williford, Tennessee State; Ray Williams, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Tyler Wilke, K ? Sr., 6-4, 223 ? Libertyville, Ill. ? Eastern Illinois
Wilke was perfect on both of his field goal attempts, including one that sealed the game, in the Panther’s 25-21 victory at Illinois State on Saturday. Wilke connected on a 20-yard attempt in the third quarter to cut ISU’s advantage to 11 points and then nailed a 44-yarder with 1:54 to go, giving EIU a four-point lead and forcing the Redbirds to go the length of the field and score a touchdown to win the game. Wilke also made his only point-after attempt of the game in recording seven points for his team on the night.
Others Nominated: Gavin Hallford, Jacksonville State; Kienan Cullen, Murray State; Eric Benson, Tennessee State.
NEWCOMER
Mike Hicks, WR ? Jr., 6-3, 215 ? Jacksonville, Fla. ? UT Martin
Hicks caught nine passes for 155 yards and a touchdown in the Skyhawks 31-17 Conference victory over Austin Peay on Saturday. With his team leading by only two points late in the third quarter, Hick caught five passes on the drive, capping it with a 28-yard touchdown reception from Cade Thompson on the first play of the fourth quarter. In all, Hicks accounted for 91 yards on that 13-play drive that capped the game for UTM.
Others Nominated: Tremayne Coger, Jacksonville State; Patrick Robertson, Murray State; JaJuan Spillman, Tennessee State; Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech.