Courtesy of the Ohio Valley Conference
OFFENSIVE
Henry Harris, RB • Sr., 5-8, 185 • Memphis, Tenn. • Southeast Missouri
Harris reached the 100-yard rushing plateau for the fourth time in five games this season in leading Southeast Missouri to a 28-13 road victory at Eastern Illinois. It marked the first time the Redhawks had won in Charleston since joining the OVC and is the team's first four-game winning streak (and three-game road winning streak) since the 1994 season. Harris rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries (6.6 yards/carry) and finished the game with a career-high 286 all-purpose yards (including 100 yards on kickoff returns and seven receiving yards), marking the third-straight game the senior has had 200 or more all-purpose yards. Ten of his rushes were for 10 or more yards in the victory. Harris currently ranks second nationally in all-purpose yards (213.20/game) and fourth nationally in rushing (136.0 yards/game). Harris' play has helped Southeast Missouri to its first ever 3-0 start in OVC play. He is the first OVC player to be named Offensive Player of the Week three weeks in a row since early in the 2009 season (Ryan Perrilloux).
Others Nominated: Jeffrey Cameron, Jacksonville State; Arthur Brackett, Murray State; Dante' Thomas, Tennessee State; Tim Benford, Tennessee Tech; Derek Carr, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
Darrick Borum, LB • So., 6-2, 210 • Marion, Ill. • Southeast Missouri
Borum had a career-high 10 tackles, two sacks, three tackles-for-loss, a fumble recovery, interception and pass break-up in Southeast Missouri's 28-13 road win over Eastern Illinois. It marked the first time the Redhawks had won in Charleston since joining the OVC and is the team's first four-game winning streak (and three-game road winning streak) since the 1994 season. His interception ended EIU's first drive of the day and led to seven points for Southeast who took an early lead. Borum was part of a Redhawk defense that forced a season-high five turnovers against the Panthers. The sophomore is currently Southeast's team leader in sacks, tackles-for-loss, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries on the season.
Others Nominated: Nick Nasti, Eastern Illinois; Brenton Tolson, Jacksonville State; Eugene Clifford, Tennessee State; Kelechi Ordu, Tennessee Tech; Josh Bey, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Kevin Cook, P • Sr., 6-2, 219 • Libertyville, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
Cook earned his third career OVC Specialist of the Week honor after averaging 50.2 yards on four punts against Southeast Missouri. On Cook's first attempt of the day he sailed a punt 86 yards from his own end zone to pin the Redhawks at their own five-yard line. The 86-yard punt was the longest in EIU's NCAA Division I history and seven yards away from the longest punt in NCAA history. For the day the senior would see three of his four punts downed inside the 20-yard line with the fourth nearly downed at the one-yard line before being knocked into the end zone for a touchback. Cook is now ranked second nationally in punting average (45.07 yards/punt).
Others Nominated: Alan Bonner, Jacksonville State; Dontrell Johnson, Murray State; Henry Harris, Southeast Missouri; Jamin Godfrey, Tennessee State, Joe Hook, UT Martin.
CO-NEWCOMER
Coty Blanchard, P/QB • Fr., 6-2, 175 • Leesburg, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Blanchard was 3-for-4 for 68 yards and a touchdown passing, rushed for 28 yards and four carries and averaged 39.4 yard on seven total punts in Jacksonville State's win over Murray State. With JSU trailing 14-0, the true freshman got the fourth-ranked Gamecocks on the board on a 65-yard touchdown strike to Jeffrey Cameron with 35 seconds left in the first quarter. With Jax State clinging to a 40-34 lead with 58 second remaining, Blanchard connected on his longest punt of the night, sailing the ball 50 yards to pin Murray State at its own 4-yard line and help JSU win its ninth-straight game (the longest winning streak among Football Championship Subdivision teams).
CO-NEWCOMER
Arthur Brackett, WR • Fr., 6-0, 180 • Madison, Ala. • Murray State
Brackett caught 13 passes for 96 yards in Murray State's 40-34 loss at No. 4 Jacksonville State. The game marked a return to his home state of Alabama for the freshman. The 13 receptions were the second-most in Murray State history, just three shy of the single-game record. Brackett currently ranks ninth nationally in receptions/game (7.60) and 35th nationally in total receiving yards (326).
Others Nominated: Jamin Godfrey, Tennessee State; TJ Drakeford, UT Martin.