NORFOLK, Va. – North Carolina A&T State running back Tarik Cohen and North Carolina Central quarterback Malcolm Bell was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Co-Offensive Players of the Week, the conference announced today. Hampton linebacker Devan Johnson was named Defensive Player of the Week.
Florida A&M’s Ryan Stanley earned Rookie of the Week honors, while North Carolina A&T State’s Brandon Parker received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. Cameron Marouf, of Norfolk State and Chase Powell, of Hampton, were selected as the Co-Specialists of the Week.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tarik Cohen
North Carolina A&T State
RB
5-6, 179, Sr.
Bunn, N.C.
Cohen rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 13 attempts in Saturday’s win at Delaware State. This marks the fourth time he has surpassed the 200-yard rushing mark this season. Cohen also had runs of 84 and 59 yards as he has compiled four runs of 80-plus yards this season. The Bunn, N.C. native has won MEAC Player of the Week honors seven times this season.
Malcolm Bell
North Carolina Central
QB
6-1, 190, R-Sr.
Richmond, Va.
Bell amassed 345 yards of total offense and accounted for three touchdowns in NCCU’s 30-21 win over Howard. He finished 20-for-28 passing for 223 yards with one touchdown. His 122 rushing yards were the most by an NCCU quarterback since 1999.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Devan Johnson
Hampton
LB
6-1, 203, So.
Duluth, Ga.
Johnson had a monster performance with 13 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two sacks and three quarterback hurries in Hampton’s win over Savannah State this past weekend. The Duluth, Ga. native came up big on Savannah State’s final drive of the contest as he logged two sacks with the final sack leading to a forced fumble and turnover on downs.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Ryan Stanley
Florida A&M
QB
6-3, 185, R-Fr.
Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Stanley led two fourth quarter scoring drives in a three-minute span to turn a 21-9 deficit into a 22-21 lead with five minutes to go as Florida A&M has won its most games since 2012. The Pembroke Pines, Fla. native passed for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-42 passing attempts. He was 5-of-6 passing for 54 yards with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and rushed for 49 yards on five carries, with a 30-yard scramble to the Morgan State 2-yard line to set up the game winning score.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Brandon Parker
North Carolina A&T State
LT
6-7, 279, Jr.
Kannapolis, N.C.
Parker did not allow a sack or give up a quarterback pressure as he graded out at 90 percent. The Aggies finished with 519 total offensive yards versus Delaware State with 351 of those yards coming via the ground. The Kannapolis, N.C. native has had only one penalty called against him this season.
CO-SPECIALISTS OF THE WEEK
Cameron Marouf
Norfolk State
PK/P
5-9, 160, Sr.
Woodbridge, Va.
Marouf was instrumental in Norfolk State’s first-ever road win at South Carolina State as he scored seven points in the 13-10 affair. He made both of his field goal tries, from 41 and 38 yards out with the 41-yarder a season-best. He was pressed into punting duties due to injuries and logged nine punts with five landing inside the SCSU 20.
Chase Powell
Hampton
KR
5-7, 172, Jr.
Upper Marlboro, Md.
Powell recorded a 95-yard touchdown return which proved to be the difference in Saturday’s 28-24 win over Savannah State. This was Hampton’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2012.
Other Top Performers
Stefan Banks (DE/SSU) led the team with six solo tackles, three sacks and one interception against Hampton.
Elijah Bell (WR/NCAT) caught four passes for 77 yards and one touchdown in the 45-14 win at Delaware State.
Colby Blanton (P/FAMU) averaged 45.8 yards on five punts in the 22-21 win over Morgan State.
Toree Boyd (OT/HOW) earned a 94-percent blocking grade, with three pancake blocks, in the loss to North Carolina Central.
Nigel Chavis (DE/NSU) posted seven solo tackles and one pass deflection in the 13-10 win over South Carolina State.
Calvin Darville (DE/FAMU) recorded two sacks, for a loss of 13 yards, in the win over Morgan State.
Jalen Day (LB/HOW) notched a team-high 11 tackles, including seven solo tackles, at North Carolina Central.
Maleek Henderson (TE/NCCU) tallied three receptions for 36 yards in the win over Howard.
Cody Jones (PK/NCAT) went 6-for-6 on extra points and connected on a 44-yard field goal against Delaware State.
William King (WR/MSU) returned the opening kickoff 87 yards to set up Morgan State’s first score of the game, against Florida A&M.
Anthony Philyaw (RB/HOW) rushed for a game-high 139 yards, with one touchdown, at North Carolina Central.
Klaundric Richardson (LB/NCAT) recorded two interceptions and forced a fumble in the win at Delaware State.
Mekhi Richardson (DB/HOW) returned four kickoffs for a career-high 93 yards against North Carolina Central.
Brandon Walker (DB/NSU) registered eight tackles and one interception in the win at South Carolina State.
Tarrance Wells (G/NCCU) posted a 92-percent grade on his blocking assignments, with six pancake blocks and no sacks allowed, in the win over Howard.
Courtesy: MEAC
