North Carolina A&T State running back Tarik Cohen was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard was named Defensive Player of the Week.
This marks the fourth time this season and third consecutive week Cohen has nabbed the honor while Leonard won for the third time. He was also named STATS FCS National Defensive of the Week for his efforts.
Delaware State’s Mike Waters and Florida A&M’s Ryan Stanley earned Co-Rookie of the Week honors, while Delaware State’s Ernest Mengoni and North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker received Co-Offensive Linemen of the Week honors. Mike Jones, of North Carolina Central, was selected as the Specialist of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Tarik Cohen
North Carolina A&T State
RB
5-6, 179, Sr.
Bunn, N.C.
Cohen had his third-straight 200-yard plus performance in the 52-35 win over Bethune-Cookman. He rushed for 220 yards on 25 carries, with three touchdowns. He notched an 87-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter to strengthen the Aggies’ lead.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Darius Leonard
South Carolina State
LB
6-2, 225, R-Jr.
Lake View, S.C.
Leonard recorded a game-high 14 tackles (11 solo), including 1.5 tackles for a loss, in the 14-9 win over Howard. He also had two interceptions. He returned an interception in the second quarter for a 64-yard touchdown, which gave South Carolina State its first points of the game which was huge as the Bulldogs won by five points.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Mike Waters
Delaware State
RB
5-7, 175, Fr.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Waters rushed for 150 yards on 25 carries in the loss to Florida A&M. This was the most rushing yards by a Delaware State freshman since 1984. He compiled 75 yards alone in the fourth quarter as the Hornets attempted a furious comeback.
Ryan Stanley
Florida A&M
QB
6-3, 190, R-Fr.
Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Stanley scored four of the Rattlers’ five touchdowns in their 41-27 win over Delaware State. He completed 15-of-29 passes (51.2 percent) for 204 yards and one touchdown. The Pembroke Pines, Fla. native was also the team’s leading rusher with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
CO-OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OF THE WEEK
Ernest Mengoni
Delaware State
C
6-4, 290, Sr.
Jessup, Pa.
Mengoni earned a grade of 91-percent on his blocking assignments as Delaware State finished with 510 yards of total offense, the most since 2012. The Hornets rushed for 325 yards, with four touchdowns, and completed 17 passes in the loss to Florida A&M.
Brandon Parker
North Carolina A&T State
LT
6-7, 279, Jr.
Kannapolis, N.C.
Parker earned a 91-percent grade on his blocking assignments, with four pancake blocks and no sacks allowed, as North Carolina A&T State finished with a season-high 561 yards of offense. He also helped protect his quarterback for a career-best 277 passing yards and three touchdowns.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Mike Jones
North Carolina Central
PR
5-10, 190, R-Jr.
Baltimore, Md.
Jones compiled 72 yards on four punts in the 33-3 victory over Savannah State. His 59-yard touchdown return was the first score of his career.
Other Top Performers
Brycen Alleyne (RB/DSU) rushed for a career-high 169 yards on 20 carries, with two touchdowns, against Florida A&M.
Elijah Bell (WR/NCAT) tallied a 37-yard touchdown reception to give the Aggies the lead in the win over Bethune-Cookman.
Kawuan Cox (DE/NCCU) notched two solo tackles in the 33-3 win over Savannah State.
Frederick Henry-Ajudua (DE/NCCU) recorded seven tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks, in the win over Savannah State.
Terry Jefferson (DB/FAMU) posted a game-high six solo tackles and one interception returned for 60 yards in the win over Delaware State.
Cody Jones (PK/NCAT) went 7-for-7 in extra points in the victory over Bethune-Cookman.
Orlando McKinley (DB/FAMU) had the game-clinching 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Jerome Pettiway (P/SCSU) averaged 41.4 yards on eight punts, including two over 50 yards, in the win over Howard.
Jeremy Taylor (LB/NCAT) intercepted a pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to increase North Carolina A&T State’s lead over Bethune-Cookman.
