• OVC Football Players of the Week – September 24 (PDF)
CO-OFFENSIVE
Roc Thomas, RB • 5-11, 193, Sr. • Oxford, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Thomas carried the ball 18 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes as Jacksonville State topped No. 16 Liberty 31-10. Liberty, who topped Baylor in the season opener, is in its first year of transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The victory was the 33rd-straight for the Gamecocks in the regular season over non-FBS opponents. Thomas scored on an 11-yard run early in the third quarter and tacked on a 13-yard score with 5:04 to play to put the game out of reach. Thomas currently ranks 23rd nationally in rushing yards/game (98.3).
CO-OFFENSIVE
Ladarius Galloway, RB • 5-9, 205, Jr. • Indianola, Miss. • UT Martin
Against a team that was ranked No. 15 nationally in rush defense, Galloway carried the ball 25 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns while also catching a pair of passes for 28 yards as UT Martin topped No. 20 Tennessee State 31-16. The transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College finished with 118 all-purpose yards, the third time this season he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Galloway scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter to open the scoring and capped the scoring and solidified the win with a 12-yard score with three minutes to play. Galloway currently ranks second nationally in rushing yards (514), sixth in rushing yards/game (128.5), 12th in rushing touchdowns (4) and 13th in all-purpose yards (152.0/game).
Others Nominated: JaVaughn Craig, Austin Peay; Scott Gilkey, Jr., Eastern Illinois; Dontez Byrd, Tennessee Tech.
DEFENSIVE
Kobie Grace, S • 5-9, 191, Sr. • Winter Park, Fla. • Eastern Kentucky
Grace had seven tackles, an interception, forced a fumble and recovered two fumbles in a 24-21 win over Tennessee Tech. The senior forced and recovered a fumble on TTU’s first possession which Eastern Kentucky turned into three points. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Grace intercepted a pass at the EKU 19-yard line to end a Tennessee Tech drive. The Colonels offense would score six plays later in what proved to be the game-winning score. Grace is currently tied for first nationally with two fumble recoveries on the season.
Others Nominated: Gunnar Scholato, Austin Peay; Bradley Dewberry, Eastern lllinois; Jonathan Hagler, Jacksonville State; Lamont Crittendon, Murray State; Kendall Donnerson, Southeast Missouri; Justin North, Tennessee State; James Gilleylen, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Keith Wrzuszczak, P • 5-11, 212, Sr. • Geelong, Victoria, Australia • Eastern Kentucky
In a game decided by three points, Wrzuszczak’s punting proved to be an important difference maker, as he averaged 48.1 yards/punt on nine attempts. The senior booted a career-long 76-yard punt (the longest in the FCS this season) and three of his attempts were longer than 50 yards. On a series of three punts in the first half, he pinned Tennessee Tech at the 4, 7 and 15-yard lines to start their drives. Wrzuszczak currently ranks 10th nationally in punting (44.4 yards/punt) while the EKU team is seventh nationally in net punting (41.17 yards/punt). It marks the second time this season he has been named OVC Specialist of the Week.
Others Nominated: Logan Birchfield, Austin Peay; Cody Edwards, Eastern Illinois; Cade Stinnett, Jacksonville State; Cameron Sanders, Southeast Missouri; DeVon Johnson, Tennessee State; TJ Jefferson, UT Martin.
NEWCOMER
Ladarius Galloway, RB • 5-9, 205, Jr. • Indianola, Miss. • UT Martin
Against a team that was ranked No. 15 nationally in rush defense, Galloway carried the ball 25 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns while also catching a pair of passes for 28 yards as UT Martin topped No. 20 Tennessee State 31-16. The transfer from Copiah-Lincoln Community College finished with 118 all-purpose yards, the third time this season he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Galloway scored on a three-yard run in the first quarter to open the scoring and capped the scoring and solidified the win with a 12-yard score with three minutes to play. Galloway currently ranks second nationally in rushing yards (514), sixth in rushing yards/game (128.5), 12th in rushing touchdowns (4) and 13th in all-purpose yards (152.0/game).
Others Nominated: Scotty Gilkey, Jr., Eastern Illinois; LJ Scott, Eastern Kentucky; Trae Barry, Jacksonville State; Kenney Wooten, Murray State; DeVon Johnson, Tennessee State.