BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama A&M quarterback De’Angelo Ballard and running back Jordan Bentley, and Alcorn State linebacker Darien Anderson and running back De’Lance Turner have been recognized by the Southwestern Athletic Conference for their outstanding performances during week eight of the 2016 season.
Offensive Player of the Week
De’Angelo Ballard
Alabama A&M
Quarterback
QB | Sr. | 6-1 | 200 | McComb, Miss.
The senior scored accounted for four total touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 40-7 win over UAPB. He engineered touchdown drives on Alabama A&M’s first four possessions of the game. He was 17 of 27 passing for 214 yards and a 19-yard touchdown strike with no interceptions. He rushed for 89 yards on 15 carries. scoring three times on the ground, including a 26-yard TD run
Defensive Player of the Week
Darien Anderson
Alcorn State
Linebacker
LB | Sr. | 6-1 | 240 lbs. | Miami, Fla.
Anderson helped the Braves shut down Texas Southern in the second half for a 23-20 victory on homecoming. He led Alcorn with a career-high 13 tackles and aided the defense in not allowing a second half touchdown for the second consecutive week. Anderson also recorded two sacks and four tackles for a loss, resulting for negative 22 yards in the contest and ranks first in the SWAC with 1.5 sacks and 2.00 tackles for a loss per game. He’s third in the league with 9.2 tackles per game.
Special Teams Player of the Week
De’Lance Turner
Alcorn State
Running Back
RB | Jr. | 6-1 | 214 lbs. | McLaine, Miss.
Turner changed the game with a special teams play, followed by a touchdown to headline the 23-20 win for Alcorn over Texas Southern on homecoming. Turner came through with a blocked punt to give the Braves the ball at the two-yard line. He then punched it in on a two-yard rush for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. It marked the second week in a row that Turner blocked a punt.
Newcomer of the Week
Jordan Bentley
Alabama A&M
Running Back
RB | Fr. | 6-0 | 200 lbs. | Guntersville, Ala.
Bentley continued to provide a spark in the AAMU rushing attack, as he rushed for 91 yards on 11 carries and scored his seventh rushing touchdown of the season – eighth overall. His eight total scores is tops in the league, and the freshman ranks third in rushing yards (576) and yards per game (82.3).
Courtesy: SWAC
