• OVC Football Players of the Week – September 11 (PDF)
OFFENSIVE
Paxton DeLaurent, QB • 6-5, 215, So. • Camdenton, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
DeLaurent, a transfer from Central Methodist, completed 33-of-44 passes for 332 yard and four touchdowns without an interception as Southeast Missouri won at No. 17 Southern Illinois by a 34-31 margin. His touchdown passes went for 6, 3, 4 and 2 yards, with two coming in the first half and the final two coming in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter. At one point, he completed 16 passes in a row. SEMO trailed, 31-21, when DeLaurent threw the game-winning touchdown, a two-yard pass to Damoriea Vick with 11 seconds left to play. He completed passes to nine different receivers and had the most passing yards in a game by a SEMO quarterback since 2018 (386, Daniel Santacaterina, at UT Martin).
Others Nominated: Robert Giaimo, Lindenwood; Willie Miller, Tennessee Tech; Dresser Winn, UT Martin.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Tyrone Griffin, LB • 6-3, 208, So. • Brownsburg, Ind. • Lindenwood
Griffin, a transfer from Indiana State, made nine tackles, including a sack, and tallied two pass breakups as Lindenwood came from behind to top Houston Baptist 21-20 in its OVC and Division I debut. Griffin recorded a half sack in the third quarter, just one play before the defense recovered a fumble. On back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, he recorded another half sack and broke up a pass to force a field goal attempt which was missed from 45 yards out. Lindenwood would later block a punt and recovery it for a touchdown to win by one point.
CO-DEFENSIVE
John H. Ford II, LB • 6-3, 230, Grad. • Nashville, Tenn. • UT Martin
Ford made 12 tackles (4 solo), including 2.0 for loss and a sack, and broke up a pass as UT Martin came up just short at No. 5 Missouri State. Ford has recorded double-digit tackles in both games this season and has 3.5 tackles for loss through three games.
Others Nominated: Colin Bohanek, Eastern Illinois; Quinaz Turner, Murray State; Seth Carlisle, Tennessee Tech.
CO-SPECIALIST
Logan Seibert, K • 5-10, 184, So. • Belleville, Ill. • Lindenwood
Seibert connected on all three of his field goal attempts as Lindenwood made its OVC and Division I debut with a 21-20 victory at Houston Baptist. His field goals from 41 and 44 yards were the only points for the Lions in the first half. He then connected from 44 yards to pull the team to with five points early in the fourth quarter. The three makes were a new career-high for the sophomore. Seibert added six kickoffs for an average of 63.5 yards with a pair of touchbacks.
CO-SPECIALIST
DC Pippin, K • 6-0, 178, Jr. • Springfield, Ill. • Southeast Missouri
Pippin scored 10 points kicking in Southeast Missouri's 34-31 win at No. 17 Southern Illinois, making 2-of-3 field goals and 4-of-4 PATs. After missing from 50 yards at the end of the first half, Pippin nailed a 50-yarder late in the third quarter to tie the game at 17, and added a 45-yarder at the beginning of the fourth quarter to give SEMO a 20-17 lead. He is one of four players in the FCS with a 50-yard field goal this season. Pippin also kicked off five times for 294 yards, averaging 58.8 yards per kickoff.
Others Nominated: Stone Galloway, Eastern Illinois; Hayden Olsen, Tennessee Tech; Tyler Larco, UT Martin.
NEWCOMER
Paxton DeLaurent, QB • 6-5, 215, So. • Camdenton, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
DeLaurent, a transfer from Central Methodist, completed 33-of-44 passes for 332 yard and four touchdowns without an interception as Southeast Missouri won at No. 17 Southern Illinois by a 34-31 margin. His touchdown passes went for 6, 3, 4 and 2 yards, with two coming in the first half and the final two coming in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter. At one point, he completed 16 passes in a row. SEMO trailed, 31-21, when DeLaurent threw the game-winning touchdown, a two-yard pass to Damoriea Vick with 11 seconds left to play. He completed passes to nine different receivers and had the most passing yards in a game by a SEMO quarterback since 2018 (386, Daniel Santacaterina, at UT Martin).
Others Nominated: Trey Wilhoit, Eastern Illinois; Tyrone Griffin, Lindenwood; Gleson Sprewell, Tennessee State; DJ Nelson, UT Martin.