OFFENSIVE – QB Tim Buckley, Alcorn State; 6-1, 185, JR; Madison, MS
Buckley completed 25 of 40 passes for 408 yards and five touchdowns and one interception and rushed 18 times for 52 yards and one touchdown in the Braves’ 48-42 loss at Southern.
Buckley threw TD passes of 73 and 20 yards in the second quarter and had scoring passes of 31, 14, and 11 yards in the fourth quarter as well as a one-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. His five touchdowns passing is the highest in the FCS this season and his 460 yards total offense is the third highest in the FCS this season.
DEFENSIVE – DE Steven Williams, Southern; 6-1, 255; JR; Mobile, AL
Williams made five tackles (3 solo, including 1.5 TFL) and 1.5 sacks in Southern’s 48-42 win over Alcorn State.
Williams made a solo sack in the first quarter and combined with a teammate on a fourth-quarter sack as the Jaguars held off Alcorn State.
NEWCOMER – QB Arvell Nelson, Texas Southern; 6-4, 225; JR; Louisville, KY
Nelson completed 31 of 47 passes for 325 yards and one interception at Texas State.
Nelson led the Tigers on three scoring drives in setting individual career highs in completions, attempts and passing yards.
SPECIALIST – RB Byron Williams, Southern; 5-10, 185; SO; Clinton, LA
Williams averaged 37.8 yards on four kickoff returns, including a 91-yard kickoff return for touchdown in the fourth quarter of Southern’s win over Alcorn State.
It was the first KO return for touchdown by a SWAC player since 2008 when Grambling State’s David Stuckman returned a kickoff 91 yards in the SWAC Championship Game vs. Jackson State
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
RB Ulysses Banks (Alabama A&M) – Rushed for 177 yards on 34 carries for two TDs vs. Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Also caught three passes for 30 yards.
QB Chris Mitchell (Alabama State) – Completed 18-of-32 passes for 218 yards and also added 48 rushing yards vs. Mississippi Valley State
RB Frank Warren (Grambling State) – Rushed 19 times for 78 yards vs. Oklahoma State
QB Bryant Lee (Southern) – Completed 19 of 35 passing for 253 yards and four touchdowns vs. Alcorn State
WR Brian Haith (Texas Southern) – Caught eight passes for 104 yards vs. Texas State
LB Anthony Burney (Alabama State) – Made five tackles (1 TFL) with 1.0 sacks and one pass breakup vs. Mississippi Valley State
DE Christian Anthony (Grambling State) – Made 13 tackles (12 solo) with one forced fumble vs. Oklahoma State
DL Rolando Melancon (Texas Southern) – Made six tackles (2 TFL for -12 yards), 1.0 sacks and one quarterback hurry vs. Texas State
DB Kevin Thornton (Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff) – Made 12 tackles (5 solo) with one forced fumble vs. Alabama A&M
FS Kejuan Riley (Alabama State) – Averaged 24.5 yards on a pair of kick returns while making two tackles and one pass breakup
WR Terrance Lewis (Alcorn State) – Totaled 227 all-purpose yards (124 kickoff returns, 103 receiving) vs. Southern
