OVC Football Player of the Week Awards presented by TicketSmarter
 
CO-OFFENSIVE
Brenton Paul, RB • 5-9, 190, Fr. • Denham Springs, La. • Tennessee State
Paul accounted for 128 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns (including the game-winner in the final minute) as Tennessee State topped Florida A&M 29-26 for its first win of the season. The freshman carried the ball 26 times for 92 yards (3.5 ypc) and a score and caught four passes for 36 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Paul caught a four-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to tie the game and added a 1-yard rushing score late in the second quarter. His final score of the game came with 51 seconds left, a 20-yard pass from Daylin Lee that gave the Tigers the victory over its rival in Tallahassee. His four total touchdowns in 2026 ranks third among freshmen (and first among true freshmen) nationally.
 
CO-OFFENSIVE
Kennedy McGill, QB • 6-1, 225, 5th Year • Bothell, Wash. • Western Illinois
McGill accounted for 345 yards of total offense and five touchdowns as Western Illinois rolled to a 59-2 victory over Morehead State. The fifth year helped guide the Leathernecks to 593 yards of total offense for the game, as WIU evened its record at 2-2 on the season. McGill completed 25-of-31 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns and rushed 15 times for a team-high 81 yards (5.4 ypc) and another score. He rushed for a 28-yard score early in the game and then added touchdown passes of 5, 35, 9 and 20 yards (two in each half). McGill ranks fifth nationally in completion percentage (72.8%), 11th in points responsible for (60), 14th in rushing touchdowns (4) and 17th in passing efficiency (157.9).
 
Others Nominated: Hakeem Watters, Charleston Southern; Cole Pennington, Gardner-Webb; Payton Brown, Southeast Missouri.
 
DEFENSIVE
Tre Yanez, LB • 6-1, 215, Jr. • Frisco, Texas • Gardner-Webb
Yanez had a team-high 12 tackles (5 solo) as the GWU defense limited North Carolina Central to just 218 yards of total offense in picking up its first win of the season (44-20). The junior added 2.0 tackles for loss (for -18 yards), including a sack (for -13 yards), and a quarterback hurry. He leads the OVC and ranks 10th nationally in tackles (10.8/game) and 13th nationally in tackles for loss (1.75/game).
 
Others Nominated: Kason Hooks, Charleston Southern; Premiere Whitley, Eastern Illinois; Cyler Christmas, Southeast Missouri; Jalen LaBranche, Tennessee State; LeBron Morgan.
 
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS
Tyler Simpson, K • 6-1, 210, R-Jr. • Cumming, Ga. • Gardner-Webb
Simpson was perfect on his kick attempts as Gardner-Webb topped North Carolina Central 44-20 for its first victory of the season. The junior made a 27-yard field goal to open the scoring, then was 4-of-4 on PAT’s through the middle portion of the game. Simpson capped the contest with a 21-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter. He also had eight kickoffs, three of which went for touchbacks. Simpson ranks third nationally in field goals made/game (2.0) and is 14th in field goal percentage (88.9%).

CO-SPECIAL TEAMS
Khylen Harris-Norman, RS • 5-10, 185, So. • Atlanta, Ga. • Southeast Missouri
Harris-Norman started Southeast Missouri's win over Central Arkansas with a bang, returning the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. The 99-yard return tied the school record for longest kick return in school history (set by Cameron Sanders in 2015). It was the first kickoff return for a score by a SEMO player since 2022, which also came against Central Arkansas. It is tied for the third-longest return in the FCS this season.

Others Nominated: Quay Kindell, Charleston Southern; Drew Schiller, Eastern Illinois; Ronan Culkin, Western Illinois.
 
ROOKIE
Brenton Paul, RB • 5-9, 190, Fr. • Denham Springs, La. • Tennessee State
Paul accounted for 128 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns (including the game-winner in the final minute) as Tennessee State topped Florida A&M 29-26 for its first win of the season. The freshman carried the ball 26 times for 92 yards (3.5 ypc) and a score and caught four passes for 36 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Paul caught a four-yard touchdown late in the first quarter to tie the game and added a 1-yard rushing score late in the second quarter. His final score of the game came with 51 seconds left, a 20-yard pass from Daylin Lee that gave the Tigers the victory over its rival in Tallahassee. His four total touchdowns in 2026 ranks third among freshmen (and first among true freshmen) nationally.
 
Others Nominated: Jamie Williamson, Charleston Southern; Zalen Watkins, Gardner-Webb; Tate Surber, UT Martin.
 
 
Other Notable Performances
Below are other notable performances from the past week.

• Hakeem Watters (RB, So.), Charleston Southern. On only seven carries, rushed for 123 yards (17.6 ypc) and three touchdowns in win over Point University.
 
• Cole Pennington (QB, Sr.), Gardner-Webb. In win over North Carolina Central, passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
 
• Cyler Christmas (SAF, Sr.), Southeast Missouri. Made team-high nine tackles (6 solo), with a TFL and interception on win over Central Arkansas.
 
• Jalen LaBranche (DB, So.), Tennessee State. Made three tackles and returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown as TSU won by three points at rival Florida A&M.
 
• Zalen Watkins (DL, R-Fr.), Gardner-Webb. Made two tackles, including 0.5 TFL, and had a QBH while also rushing twice including scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run.
 
• Tate Surber (QB, R-Fr.), UT Martin. Against FBS foe Memphis, completed 17-of-29 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
 
• Premier Whitley (DL, Sr.), Eastern Illinois. Had five tackles, including 0.5 sack, and forced a fumble against nationally-ranked Illinois State.