Story and photo courtesy of the Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese State junior running back Marcus Wiltz was named the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. His teammate, freshman punter Jean Breaux, was named the special teams player of the week while Central Arkansas senior linebacker Rojae Jackson was named the defensive player of the week.
Offensive Player of the Week: Marcus Wiltz, McNeese State
Wiltz led a dominant Cowboy rushing attack with 105 yards on 20 carries as McNeese State won 27-21 at Middle Tennessee, a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision’s Sun Belt Conference, Thursday night. It was the Southland’s 18th win against an FBS team since the 2000 season. The Cowboys ran for 298 yards. Wiltz, a junior from Cecilia, La. (Cecilia H.S.), averaged 5.2 yards per carry and also had one catch for nine yards.
Honorable Mention: Wynrick Smothers, Central Arkansas; Brady Attaway, Stephen F. Austin.
Defensive Player of the Week: Rojae Jackson, Central Arkansas
Jackson was all over the field with a career-high and team-best 10 tackles in a loss at Ole Miss on Saturday. An injury knocked the senior from Vachere, La. (Vachere H.S.) out of the game in the second half. The Bears had a 20-14 halftime lead on the Rebels. Among Jackson’s tackles were two tackles for loss (12 yards) and 1.5 sacks (11 yards).
Honorable Mention: Guy Morgan, McNeese State; Darren Robinson, Stephen F. Austin; Marice Sutton, Southeastern Louisiana.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Jean Breaux, McNeese State
Breaux was consistent in the win over Middle Tennessee, his first collegiate game. The freshman from Scott, La. (Acadiana H.S.), had five punts totaling 191 yards (38.2 average) and pinned Middle Tennessee inside its own 5-yard line twice. His final punt landed at the 2-yard line with six seconds left in the game. On another punt, Breaux gave it enough hang time to allow the coverage team surround return man, who muffed the punt. It was recovered by the Cowboys and led to a touchdown and a 24-6 lead at the time.
Honorable Mention: Kevin Buford, Central Arkansas.
Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.