BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southern quarterback Austin Howard , Alabama State linebacker Kourtney Berry, Grambling State kicker Marc Orozco, and Alabama A&M quarterback De’Angelo Ballard have been recognized by the Southwestern Athletic Conference as football players of the week for their outstanding performance in competition during Sept. 19-20.
Offensive Player of the Week
Austin Howard
Southern
Quarterback
QB – So. – 6-1 – 190 – Edgard, La.
Southern’s signal-caller shined during Southern’s 50-31 victory over Jackson State, as he threw for a career-high 395 yards and a score on 21-of-32 passing while running for 29 yards and two more scores. It was the second-straight week that the Jaguars put 50 points on the board.
Defensive Player of the Week
Kourtney Berry
Alabama State
Linebacker
LB – R-Jr. – 6-0 – 215 – Merrillville, Ind.
Berry was a bright spot for the Hornets in their 34-10 loss to Grambling State, as the senior linebacker racked up 19 stops (0.5 TFL) during the contest. Berry was the lone player on either side to accumulate double-digit tackles in the contest, and he is averaging 16 tackles per game thus far this year.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Marc Orozco
Grambling State
Kicker/Punter
K/P – So. – 5-10 – 175 – Denton, Texas
Grambling State kicker Marc Orozco was 2-for-2 in field goal attempts for the Tigers in their 34-10 win over Alabama State, and also averaged 46.2 yards per punt during the game, twice pinning Alabama State inside its own 20-yard line.
Newcomer of the Week
De’Angelo Ballard
Alabama A&M
Quarterback
QB – Jr. – 6-0 – 200 – Macon, Miss.
Alabama A&M’s junior quarterback tossed for 352 yards and three scores – on 14-of-29 passing – and also added in 96 yards on the ground and two more scores during the Bulldogs’ 53-49 shootout loss to Prairie View A&M.
SWAC
