OVC Football Player of the Week Awards presented by TicketSmarter

OFFENSIVE
Kennedy McGill, QB • 6-1, 225, 5th Year • Bothell, Wash. • Western Illinois
McGill had his fourth-straight game with more than 400 yards of total offense, accounting for 475 yards and five touchdowns as Western Illinois won its first road game of the season, 42-35 at Charleston Southern, to move into a tie for first place in the OVC. The fifth year completed 14-of-20 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball a season-high 35 times for a career-high 295 yards (8.4 ypc) and four touchdowns. The 295 rushing yards were just 22 yards shy of the OVC single-game record and the most by any Division I player (FBS or FCS) this season. McGill opened the game with a 50-yard touchdown run on WIU's opening drive and then added scores of 5 and 4 yards before passing for a 44-yard touchdown to give the Leathernecks a 28-14 lead in the third quarter. Late in the third quarter he added an 84-yard touchdown run, the 16th-longest nationally in 2026 (and fourth-longest by a quarterback). After CSU tied the game late in the final frame, McGill led the team on a 10-play, 99-yard drive that resulted in the game-winning score with 15 seconds remaining. On that drive he accounted for 73 yards (50 passing, 23 rushing). Nationally, McGill ranks second in total offense (332.8 yards/game) and third in rushing yards/game (131.7).
 
Others Nominated: Hakeem Watters, Charleston Southern; Cole LaCrue, Eastern Illinois; Kory Jones, Gardner-Webb; Pops Battle, Lindenwood.
 
DEFENSIVE
Jayden Hancock, CB • 6-0, 175, So. • Douglas, Ga. • Charleston Southern
Hancock scored two defensive touchdowns in a span of 1:42 in the fourth quarter, helping Charleston Southern erase a 14-point deficit with Western Illinois to tie the game at 35. He picked off Kennedy McGill and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown with 7:37 to play. The sophomore then had a scoop-and-score fumble return 19 yards for a touchdown with 5:55 to go. Hancock also added a tackle and a pass breakup. Overall, the Charleston Southern defense had three defensive scores and now leads the FCS with five on the season. Hancock ranks 23rd nationally in passes defended (1.13/game).
 
Others Nominated: Ja'Wuan Nickson, Eastern Illinois; Cahari Haynes, Gardner-Webb; Andrew Baumgart, Lindenwood; Nick Reinike, Western Illinois.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tyler Simpson, K • 6-1, 210, R-Jr. • Cumming, Ga. • Gardner-Webb
Simpson made all four of his kicks in a 34-10 road victory at first place Southeast Missouri. The junior connected from 40 yards in the first quarter to put the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead for good and later added a 43-yarder in the fourth quarter. He also made both of his PAT attempts and had a touchback on kickoff duty.
 
Others Nominated: Baxter Pearce, Charleston Southern; Drew Schiller, Eastern Illinois; Will Graham, Lindenwood; Ronan Culkin, Western Illinois.
 
ROOKIE
Lan Farmer, QB • 6-4, 230, Fr. • Shelby, N.C. • Gardner-Webb
In just his second career start, Farmer guided Gardner-Webb to a 24-point road victory over first place Southeast Missouri, accounting for 248 yards of offense and three total touchdowns. The freshman completed 13-of-25 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball nine times for 39 yards (4.3 ypc) and another score. He threw a 24-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, extending the Runnin’ Bulldogs lead to 17-7 and later in the quarter he added an 8-yard rushing score, increasing the advantage to 24-10. He sealed the game by leading a 10-play, 76-yard drive in the fourth quarter which he capped by throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Kory Jones.
 
Others Nominated: Baxter Pearce, Charleston Southern; Jaydon Peete, UT Martin; Xavier Coleman, Western Illinois.
 
 
Other Notable Performances
Below are other notable performances from the past week.
 
• Cole LaCrue (QB, R-Jr.), Eastern Illinois. Had 381 yards of total offense and five touchdowns (4 pass, 1 rush) as Panthers snapped seven-game losing streak to UT Martin.
 
• Andrew Baumgart (DE, Jr.), Lindenwood. Had a career-high three sacks for -34 yards, adding six tackles (3 solo) as Lindenwood shutout Tennessee State 27-0.
 
• Pops Battle (QB, Jr.), Lindenwood. Had 265 passing and 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns as Lindenwood won its third-straight game, 27-0 over Tennessee State.
 
• Cahari Haynes (LB), R-Jr.), Gardner-Webb. Tallied a team-high seven tackles, including 1.0 for loss, as GWU held SEMO to 187 yards of offense in 34-10 road win.
 
• Nick Reinike (LB, Sr.), Western Illinois. Made 10 tackles (5 solo), including 2.5 for loss and a sack (for -6 yards) while forcing a fumble and adding a QBH against Charleston Southern.
 
• KJ McRae (LB, Jr.), Southeast Missouri. Had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown and added three tackles against Gardner-Webb.