Senior running back Daryl Jones of Norfolk State University and Kofi Nkrumah of Morgan State University were selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Johnny Culbreath and of S.C. State earned the Rookie of the Week accolade, while Morgan State’s Dakarai Grimsley and Bethune-Cookman’s Adam Ward earned offensive lineman and special team’s player of the week honors respectively.
Jones (RB, 5-10, 235, Sr., Richmond, Va.) scored a career-high four touchdowns, including the game-winner with 36 seconds left, as the Norfolk State Spartans snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Jones recorded 118 rushing yards on 21 carries with a long of 32 yards. He also caught two passes for 22 yards.
Nkrumah (LB, 6-1, 220, Sr., Lanham, MD) collected a game-high 13 tackles (five solo) and a sack for a loss of three yards in the Bears overtime loss to the Hampton Pirates. He also posted an interception, one pass break up and recovered a fumble.
Culbreath (OL/OT, 6-6, 310, Fr., Monroe, Ga.) assisted the Bulldogs to 493 yards of total offense, 309 on the ground, as South Carolina State defeated Winston-Salem State 20-7. Culbreath also posted four knockdown blocks, five domination blocks and held off any quarterback pressure or sacks in the victory.
Grimsley (OT, 6-5, 340, Jr., Elizabeth, NJ) helped pave the way for the Bears offense to churn out a season-high 438 yards, 270 on the ground. The New Jersey product graded out a 98-percent on his assignments and collected four pancake blocks.
Ward (K, 5-10, 185, r-So., Jacksonville, Fla.) nailed 4-of-4 extra points and a 33-yard file goal as he served as the team’s primary kicker for the first time in his career. He averaged 65.8 yards (395 total) per kickoff with one touchback on six attempts.
Other Top Performers
Ben Ballard (BCU) collected eight tackles, seven solo, and a pass breakup against the Spartans.
Dennis Conley (HAM) aided the Pirates to 438 total yards offense, 125 yards on the ground, including two pancake blocks against the Bears.
Marquez Davis (NSU) tallied a career-high 12 tackles, three for a loss of 13 yards, in the Spartans victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Will Ford (SCSU) tallied 162 yards rushing on 27 attempts in the Bulldogs 20-7 win over Winston-Salem State.
Stephen Grantham (SCSU) connected on 2-of-3 field goal attempts from 28 and 38 yards including 2-of-2 PATs
Jeremy Gilchrist (HAM) caught three passes for 107 yards I the Pirates win over Morgan State.
De’Juan Guillory (BCU) helped the Wildcats offensive line to 316 total yards with two pancake blocks against NSU.
Markee Hamlin (SCSU) recorded seven tackles, five solo, and one pass breakup in the Bulldogs win over WSSU.
Eric Houston (NCAT) booted a 27 and 39 yard field goal in the Aggies loss to N.C. Central.
Brian Johnson (HOW) accounted for 303 total offense including 136 rushing and 167 passing with two touchdowns, as the Bison were defeated by Eastern Michigan.
Jason Kressen (NSU) helped NSU rush for 153 yards en-route to a 306 total offense evening as the Spartans defeated the Wildcats 38-31.
Kendall Langford (HAM) recorded nine tackles, five solo, and a pass breakup in the Pirates win.
Shelton Morgan (NCAT) threw for a career-high 121 yards, while completing 13-of-17 passes against N.C. Central.
Jimmie Russell (BCU) rushed for 100 yards on 26 attempts and a touchdown against NSU. He also recorded a passing touchdown connecting on 8-of-15 passes for 86 yards.
Chad Simpson (MSU) ran for a game-high 142 yards on 33 carries, including two touchdown runs as the Bears fell in overtime to #12 Hampton, 24-17.
Brian Sumlar (BCU) rushed for a season-high 52 yards on 12 attempts and one touchdown against NSU.