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OVC Football Players of the Week – October 4 (PDF)
OFFENSIVE
Paul McRoberts, WR • Sr., 6-3, 197 • St. Louis, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
McRoberts caught eight passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns as Southeast Missouri opened OVC play with a 27-10 home victory over Murray State. The senior caught a 24-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and added an eight-yarder at the end of the third quarter. Prior to catching his second touchdown he made a highlight-reel 44-yard catch that ended up at No. 5 on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays. McRoberts averaged 21.2 yards/reception en route to his sixth career 100-yard receiving game (and second of the season).
Others Nominated: Kendall Morris, Austin Peay; Shepard Little, Eastern Illinois; Devin Borders, Eastern Kentucky; Troymaine Pope, Jacksonville State; Roman Clay, Murray State; Ladarius Vanlier, Tennessee Tech; Rod Wright, UT Martin.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Chris Kelly, LB • Sr., 5-11, 220 • Cold Spring, Ky. • Eastern Kentucky
Kelly had 11 tackles, half a sack and a quarterback hurry as Eastern Kentucky nearly topped FBS foe Kentucky, falling 34-27 in overtime. He was part of a defensive unit that limited the SEC Wildcats to just 55 rushing yards on 36 carries (1.5 ypc).
CO-DEFENSIVE
Chad Meredith, LB • So., 6-5, 222 • Louisville, Ky. • Southeast Missouri
Meredith matched his career-high with 10 tackles and also added 2.0 tackles-for-loss and three quarterback hurries as Southeast Missouri opened OVC play with a 27-10 home victory over Murray State. He helped key a defensive unit that held the high-octane Racer offense to just one touchdown on the night. He also made a tackle-for-loss of 10 yards and fourth and goal at the Southeast 4-yard line, one of three fourth down stops on the night for the Redhawks.
Others Nominated: Thomas Coronado, Eastern Illinois; DeBarriaus Miller, Jacksonville State; Tra’Darius Goff, Tennessee Tech; Damani Taylor, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Stanley Absanon, RS/DB • Sr., 5-11, 177 • Auburndale, Fla. • Eastern Kentucky
Absanon totaled 163 all-purpose yards (143 on returns) and set up three of Eastern Kentucky’s four touchdowns on the night in the Colonels near upset of FBS foe Kentucky. The senior returned five kickoffs for 127 yards (25.4 yards/return) including a 42-yarder to open the second half which led to EKU’s go-ahead touchdown. He also added a 19-yard punt return early in the fourth quarter to give the Colonels the ball on the Kentucky 26-yard line, which the team converted into another touchdown to take a 20-13 lead just five players later. On defense he added four tackles, an interception (which he returned for 22 yards to set up EKU’s first score of the night) and a pass breakup. Absanon ranks 19th nationally in punt returns (11.9 yards/return) and 30th in kickoff returns (26.3 yards/return).
Others Nominated: Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State.
NEWCOMER
Tremane McCullough, RB • Jr., 5-10, 170 • Royal Palm Beach, Fla. • Southeast Missouri
McCullough carried the ball 27 times for 220 yards (8.1 ypc) and a touchdown as Southeast Missouri opened OVC play with a 27-10 home victory over Murray State. The transfer from Arizona Western Community College also caught four passes for 18 yards to finish with 238 all-purpose yards, the third-most by an OVC player this season. The 220 rushing yards are the most by an OVC player this season and seventh-most by an FCS player in 2015. It marked his third-straight 100-yard plus rushing game. McCullough scored on a 3-yard touchdown run on the first possession of the third quarter to put his team ahead 17-7 and proved to be the game-winning score. The junior is the first Redhawks player to rush for 200 or more yards in a game since 2012 (Levi Terrell also against Murray State). McCullough ranks sixth nationally in rushing yards/carry (7.68), 10th in total rushing yards (522) and 17th in all-purpose yards (146.4/game) despite seeing limited action in the first two games of the season (five total carries in those contests).
Others Nominated: Kendall Morris, Austin Peay; Devin Church, Eastern Illinois; Ethan Thomas, Eastern Kentucky; Josh Clemons, Jacksonville State; Damani Taylor, UT Martin.