• OVC Football Player of the Week Awards presented by TicketSmarter

OFFENSIVE
Charles Kellom, RB • 6-0, 215, 5th Year • Cincinnati, Ohio • Eastern Illinois
Kellom rushed for a career-high 171 yards on 19 carries (9.0 ypc) and three touchdowns as Eastern Illinois began the season with a 28-14 road win over Murray State. He scored on a 10-yard run in the second quarter to tie the game at seven and then added an 88-yard run with 58 seconds before the half to give the Panthers the lead. Kellom's third score came on a two-yard plunge with 9:05 to play in the third quarter. The 88-yard rush was the longest by a FCS player this season, while the 171 yards were the second-most nationally He also added one catch for nine yards.
 
Others Nominated: Lek Powell, Charleston Southern; Kory Jones, Gardner-Webb; Pops Battle, Lindenwood; Braylen Ragland, Southeast Missouri; Daylin Lee, Tennessee State; Tommy Ansley, UT Martin; Kennedy McGill, Western Illinois.
 
DEFENSIVE
DJ Delmore, SAF • 5-11, 197, Sr. • Baton Rouge, La. • Southeast Missouri
Delmore had a career-high 13 tackles as Southeast Missouri opened the season with a 23-21 victory at Indiana State. The senior had seven solo tackles and also tallied 3.0 tackles for loss (for -7 yards), one of which was a sack. Delmore also added a pass breakup and keyed a defense that finished with 11 tackles for loss, four sacks and forced a turnover.
 
Others Nominated: Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern; Ja'Wuan Nickson, Eastern Illinois; Isaac Edwards, Lindenwood; Brendon Hale, Tennessee State; Trey Cotton, UT Martin; Jake Kruger, Western Illinois.
 
SPECIALIST
Justin Keller, K • 5-11, 190, 5th Year • Shawnee Mission, Kan. • Southeast Missouri
Keller scored 11 points, including making what proved to be the game-winning field goal with 7:04 to play, as Southeast Missouri won 23-21 at Indiana State on Saturday. The fifth year player hit from 42 yards just before halftime and added a 43-yarder at the beginning of the fourth quarter before making the 45-yard game-winner five minutes later. His only miss on the game was from 48 yards. Keller also added two extra points and averaged 61.8 yards on six kickoffs including two touchbacks.
 
Others Nominated: Matt Rolader, Charleston Southern; Devin Whitlock, Eastern Illinois; Will Graham, Lindenwood; Joel Salien, Western Illinois.
 
ROOKIE
Brenton Paul, RB • 5-9, 190, Fr. • Denham Springs, La. • Tennessee State
Paul accounted for 55 all-purpose yards in his collegiate debut against Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic played at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. The true freshman carried the ball nine times for 38 yards (4.2 ypc) and scored on a nine-yard run late in the first quarter. He also hauled in two catches for 17 yards. Paul contributed on each of the team's three touchdown drives, including accounting for 22 yards during a 14-play, 75-yard drive in the fourth quarter that put the Tigers ahead 24-23 with 8:48 to play.
 
Others Nominated: Harry Smalls, Charleston Southern.


Other Notable Performances
Below are other notable performances from the past week.
 
• Isaac Edwards (DB, Jr.), Lindenwood. Returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown in three-point victory over Charleston Southern. Also added four tackles.
 
• Trey Cotton (SAF, So.), UT Martin. Had 9 tackles, forced a fumble and returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown against Central Arkansas.
 
• Braylen Ragland (QB, Sr.), Southeast Missouri. Completed 26-of-36 passes for 274 yards and a touchdown in victory at Indiana State.
 
• Kennedy McGill (QB, 5th), Western Illinois. Tallied 292 yards of total offense and five touchdowns (2 passing, 3 rushing) in season-opening win over Northwestern College (Iowa).
 
• Daylin Lee (QB, Sr.), Tennessee State. Accounted for 305 yards of total offense (265 passing, 40 rushing) and two scores in John Merritt Classic game against Jackson State.
 
• Steve Zayachkowsky (LB, Sr.), Charleston Southern. Had 10 tackles and 2.0 sacks at Lindenwood.
 
• Ja'Wuan Nickson (LB, Sr.), Eastern Illinois. In victory over Murray State, had 10 tackles, 2.0 TFLs and an interception.
 
• Jake Kruger (DB, Jr.), Western Illinois. Had three tackles and two interceptions in season-opening win over Northwestern College (Iowa).