OVC Football Player of the Week Awards presented by TicketSmarter
 
OFFENSIVE
Cam Bulluck, WR • 6-3, 185, Jr. • Phenix City, Ala. • Tennessee State
Bulluck caught seven passes for 191 yards (27.3 yards per catch) and three touchdowns in Tennessee State's matchup with UT Martin. The 191 receiving yards are the seventh-most by a FCS player this season and were a career-high for the junior; he is one of 14 FCS players this season with three receiving touchdowns in a game. Late in the first quarter he had a 99-yard touchdown which put the Tigers ahead 14-0; it is the longest reception by any Division I (FBS or FCS) player this season. Bulluck added a 20-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and a 29-yarder in the fourth quarter. He has five receiving touchdowns this season (all coming in the past two games), which ranks him 12th nationally.
 
Others Nominated: Jared Echols, Charleston Southern; Charles Kellom, Eastern Illinois; Braylen Ragland, Southeast Missouri.
 
DEFENSIVE
Steve Zayachkowsky, LB • 5-10, 215, Sr. • Indian Trail, N.C. • Charleston Southern
Zayachkowsky had 17 tackles, the most by an OVC player this season and ninth most by a FCS player this season, as Charleston Southern topped No. 21 South Carolina State by a 49-39 margin. The linebacker also added two pass breakups and forced a fumble (which led to a touchdown) in the win, the first over a ranked team for CSU since 2024. Zayachkowsky now has over 250 career tackles and is averaging 9.7/game this season, which is 17th nationally.
 
Others Nominated: Aidan Archibald, Eastern Illinois; Jalen LaBranche, Tennessee State; Farand Washington, UT Martin.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Quay Kindell, RS/WR • 5-9, 185, R-Jr. • Tampa, Fla. • Charleston Southern
Kindell returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter helping to spark Charleston Southern to a 49-39 victory over No. 21 ranked South Carolina State. It was the first kick return for a score for the Buccaneers since 2023 and is the eighth-longest in the FCS this season. The junior also had a 38-yard kick return later in the game and averaged 35.5 yards on four total return on the day as CSU topped a ranked opponent for the first time since 2024. Kindell also caught two passes for 29 yards. For the season he is averaging 34.1 yards per kickoff return which ranks fourth nationally.
 
Others Nominated: Cade Cox, Eastern Illinois; Justin Keller, Southeast Missouri.
 
ROOKIE
Davian Humphrey, LB • 6-2, 230, R-Fr. • Chicago, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
The backup linebacker came up big in Eastern Illinois' 21-7 road win at Gardner-Webb, a game that saw EIU force six turnovers. Playing on special teams, he forced a fumble on a punt attempt that the Panthers recovered. Early in the third quarter he recovered a fumble at the one-yard line which led to the Panthers first touchdown of the day one play later. Humphrey also added three tackles.
 
Others Nominated: Jamie Williamson, Charleston Southern; Jaydon Peete, UT Martin.
 

Other Notable Performances
Below are other notable performances from the past week.

• Charles Kellom (RB, Sr.), Eastern Illinois. Rushed for 153 yards on 34 carries (4.5 ypc) and two touchdowns in road victory over Gardner-Webb.

• Braylen Ragland (QB, Sr.), Southeast Missouri. Finished with 225 yards of total offense (208 pass, 17 rush) and four touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) in road win over Lindenwood.

• Farand Washington (CB, R-Jr.), UT Martin. Had a school record 97-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and added 4 tackles as UTM won at Tennessee State.

• Jared Echols (QB, R-So.), Charleston Southern. In his first collegiate start, passed for 194 yards and three touchdowns in victory over No. 21 South Carolina State.

• Aidan Archibald (DE, R-So.), Eastern Illinois. Keyed an EIU defense that forced six turnovers, as he had 5 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, a sack and forced a fumble.

• Jacob Waller (LB, 5th Year), Lindenwood. Recorded 13 tackles (10 solo) and a quarterback hurry against Southeast Missouri.