OFFENSIVE
Coty Blanchard, QB/P • So., 6-0, 185 • Leesburg, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Blanchard came off the bench to replace injured starter Marques Ivory and led No. 9 Jacksonville State to a 24-23 come-from-behind victory over UT Martin in the season and OVC openers for both teams. Blanchard completed 9-of-17 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball nine times for 32 yards. With his team trailing 23-10 early in the fourth quarter, Blanchard found newcomer Washaun Ealey for a 43-yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit to six points. With 4:27 to play in the game he led the offense on a 9-play, 50-yard drive that was capped by a Calvin Middleton rushing score with just 38 seconds to play. On that final drive Blanchard rushed for 28 yards. As the team's punter Blanchard punted seven times for a 37.7 yards/punt average including putting three inside the UT Martin 20-yard line.
Others Nominated: Lorence Ricks, Eastern Illinois; Mike Harris, Murray State; Matt Scheible, Southeast Missouri; Trabis Ward, Tennessee State; Dontey Gay, Tennessee Tech; Derek Carr, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
Patrick McClellan, DB • Sr., 6-4, 212 • Maineville, Ohio • Eastern Kentucky
McClellan was part of a defensive unit that forced five Kansas State turnovers and held them to their lowest point total in more than a year as the Colonels nearly topped the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe before losing 10-7 in the final two minutes of the game. The senior forced two fumbles and recovered one in the third quarter that he returned 18 yards to the 1-yard line which set up EKU's lone touchdown of the night (and the first score of the game by either team). McClellan also had seven tackles (six solo) and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Others Nominated: Nick Martinez, Eastern Illinois; Rashad Smith, Jacksonville State; Darrell Davis, Murray State; Blake Peiffer, Southeast Missouri; Rico Council, Tennessee State; Julius McNair, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Jordan Berry, P • So., 6-5, 195 • Essendon, Australia • Eastern Kentucky
Berry was the key to pinning Kansas State deep in its own territory most of the night as Eastern Kentucky gave the Wildcats all it wanted before falling 10-7 in the final minutes on Saturday. Berry punted 10 times on the night and averaged 41.8 yards/punt. He had two punts that were longer than 60 yards, including a 67-yard blast in the third quarter, and four of his punts were downed inside the K-State 20-yard line.
Others Nominated: Lorence Ricks, Eastern Illinois; Gabriel Chambers, Jacksonville State; Kienan Cullen, Murray State; Cody Sandlin, UT Martin.
NEWCOMER
Washaun Ealey, RB • Jr., 5'11, 215 • Stillmore, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Making his Jacksonville State debut, the University of Georgia transfer carried the ball 13 times for a team-best 41 yards and caught a 43-yard touchdown pass as the No. 9-ranked Gamecocks overcame a 13-point fourth quarter deficit to win 24-23. With his team down 23-10 early in the fourth quarter, Ealey caught Coty Blanchard's pass and raced 43 yards to cut the deficit to just six points.
Others Nominated: A.J. Woodson, Eastern Illinois; Sam Small, Murray State; Quentin Sims, UT Martin.