BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Southern’s Ladarius Skelton, Alabama A&M’s Jordan Bentley, Alcorn State’s Juwan Taylor, and Niko Duffey along with Grambling State’s Miguel Mendez were all named Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Football Players of the Week in week twelve of the season for their outstanding play the league announced on Monday.
Co-Offensive
Southern
Ladarius Skelton (6-2, 210, Jr., QB, Pine Bluff, Ark.)
Skelton was electrifying in a hard-fought 40-34 victory over Jackson State. He finished the night with 304 yards of total offense. He went 12-of-23 passing for 133 yards with a touchdown. He also rushed the ball 21 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns.
Co-Offensive
Alabama A&M
Jordan Bentley (6-1, 195, RB, Sr., Guntersville, Ala.)
Bentley set a new Alabama A&M record for rushing yards in a game, finishing with 245 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries in a 34-28 loss at Alcorn State. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry while scoring on runs of 5, 9, 22 and 42 yards. Bentley has rushed for 1,302 yards and 17 touchdowns this season and now holds the Alabama A&M records for career rushing yards, career touchdowns, single-season rushing yards, single-season touchdowns and single-game rushing yards.
Defensive
Alcorn State
Juwan Taylor (5-11, 200, Jr., DB, Jackson, Miss.)
Taylor shined with 10 tackles, an interception and 0.5 TFL in Alcorn’s 34-28 win over Alabama A&M. His interception came late in the third quarter as the Bulldogs were in the red zone and Taylor came up with a pick in the end zone. His 10 tackles were one shy of his career-high. Taylor helped Alcorn secure its sixth consecutive SWAC East Division title on Saturday.
Specialist
Grambling State
Miguel Mendez (5-10, 180, Gr., K, Gonzales, Calif.)
Connected on field goals of 23 and 20 yards while also averaging 35.0 yards per punt while placing two punts inside the twenty-yard line.
Newcomer
Niko Duffey (RB, 5-11, 175, Fr., Tampa, Fla.)
Duffey turned in a 100-yard rushing performance and a touchdown in Alcorn’s 34-28 victory over Alabama A&M. His score came on a one-yard plunge up the middle in the second quarter. Duffey carried the ball 17 times for a 5.9 yards per rush average. His long on the day was a 20-yard rush.
Courtesy: SWAC
