OVC Football Player of the Week Awards presented by TicketSmarter

OFFENSIVE
Kennedy McGill, QB • 6-1, 225, 5th Year • Bothell, Wash. • Western Illinois
McGill won the honor for the second-straight week after accounting for 349 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as Western Illinois topped preseason OVC favorite UT Martin 55-24 to move to 2-1 in OVC play. The fifth year player completed 12-of-22 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 25 times for a career-high 210 yards (8.4 ypc) and three touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a one-yard run in the first quarter, threw a 24-yarder touchdown midway through the second quarter, added a 25-yard rushing score just before halftime to put his team up 21-10 and then broke a 56-yarder to begin the third quarter. McGill has 581 rushing yards over the past three games and has 890 rushing yards on the season, a mark that is sixth among all players and tops among quarterbacks. He also ranks seventh nationally in total offense (315.0 yards/game) and ninth in total points scored (68).
 
Others Nominated: Jared Echols, Charleston Southern; Pops Battle, Lindenwood; Deuce Oliver, UT Martin.
 
DEFENSIVE
Steve Zayachkowsky, LB • 5-10, 215, Sr. • Indian Trail, N.C. • Charleston Southern
Zayachkowsky was instrumental in keying a Charleston Southern defense that limited Tennessee State to just 136 yards of total offense in a 20-7 road victory as the Buccaneers improved to 4-4 on the season and won their first OVC game of the year. The senior had 13 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, while also forcing a fumble and adding two quarterback hurries. One of his sacks came on third down and forced a missed field goal attempt, while the second game on fourth down at the end of the game, allowing CSU to run out the clock. Zayachkowsky ranks 17th nationally in tackles/game (9.3).
 
Others Nominated: Lonnie Burt, Eastern Illinois; Brayon Crawford, Lindenwood; Malik McKinzie, Western Illinois.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Will Graham, K • 6-0, 200, Sr. • Centralia, Ill. • Lindenwood
Graham scored a career-high 14 points, making all eight of his kicks, as Lindenwood topped Chicago State 44-9. The senior made three field goals and all five of his PAT attempts, while also averaging 55.9 yards on nine kickoffs (with two touchbacks). Graham connected from 37 yards in the second quarter, 24 yards in the third quarter and 30 yards in the fourth quarter. He ranks 10th nationally in field goals made/game (1.57).
 
Others Nominated: Jefferson McKinnon, Eastern Illinois; Justin Keller, Southeast Missouri; Ronan Culkin, Western Illinois.
 
ROOKIE
Jaydon Peete, RB • 5-8, 190 Fr. • Milan, Tenn. • UT Martin
Peete scored a career-best two touchdowns on just eight total carries with tallying 15 rushing yards and adding a four-yard reception at Western Illinois. The freshman scored on a two-yard rush late in the second quarter and added a second two-yarder early in the third quarter.
 
Others Nominated: Cody Moss, Western Illinois
 
 
Other Notable Performances
Below are other notable performances from the past week.
 
• Pops Battle (QB, Jr.), Lindenwood. Passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns without an interception as Lindenwood topped Chicago State 44-9.
 
• Malik McKinzie (DL, Sr.), Western Illinois. Made three tackles, had a sack, forced a fumble and had an interception in win over UT Martin.
 
• Brayon Crawford (DB, Sr.), Lindenwood. Had a pair of tackles, an interception that he returned 21 yards and scooped up a block punt against Chicago State.
 
• Justin Keller (K, Grad.), Southeast Missouri. Made two field goals (44, 29) and two PAT's in road win over Eastern Illinois.
 
• Ronan Culkin (K, Jr.), Western Illinois. Scored 12 points, making a 28 and 51-yard field goal against UTM.
 
• Jared Echols (QB, R-So.), Charleston Southern. Completed 19-of-27 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown in road victory over Tennessee State.
 
• Max Zuluaga (P, R-So.), UT Martin. Averaged 51.2 yards on four punts, with a long of 68 yards.