Southland Conference Announces Football Players of the Week
FRISCO,
Texas - Southeastern Louisiana running back Jordan Wells set the conference
record for kick return yardage in a single season at Central Arkansas last
Saturday to earn Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors,
the league office announced Monday. Additionally, Central Arkansas quarterback
Nathan Dick and Stephen F. Austin defensive end Willie Jefferson were named the
conference offensive and defensive players of the week, respectively.
Offensive Player of
the Week: Nathan Dick, Central Arkansas
Dick
completed 20 of 28 passes for 299 yards and five touchdowns with just one
interception in leading Central Arkansas to a 55-29 victory over Southeastern
Louisiana on Saturday. It was the most touchdown passes by a UCA quarterback
since 2007 when Nathan Brown threw seven against Texas State. Dick, a senior
from Allen, Texas (Allen H.S.), threw touchdown passes to five different
receivers and earned the school's L.B. Jackman Award for the outstanding player
of the homecoming game. The Bears, who totaled a season-high 586 yards of total
offense against the Lions, won their fifth consecutive conference game.
Honorable Mention:
Richard Sincere, Sam Houston State; Brady Attaway, Stephen F. Austin.
Defensive Player of
the Week: Willie Jefferson, Stephen F.
Austin
Jefferson
set a school record, and just missed the Southland record by a 0.5 sack,
Saturday when he dropped McNeese State quarterback Cody Stroud 4.5 times for 31
yards in losses in a 37-17 victory over the Cowboys on Saturday. In addition to
the sacks, Jefferson, a junior from Beaumont, Texas (Ozen H.S.), made a
spectacular play when he picked off a pass in the end zone for a touchdown.
Jefferson was two-feet away from Stroud as he released the ball and intercepted
the pass. He finished the game with five tackles.
Honorable Mention: Dax Swanson, Sam Houston State; Ricky Isaac,
Northwestern State; Malcolm Bronson, McNeese State; Seth Allison, Central
Arkansas.
Special Teams
Player of the Week: Jordan Wells, Southeastern Louisiana
Wells
set the conference single-season record for kick returns in the Lions' game at
Central Arkansas. The freshman from Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock H.S.), now
has 1,171 kick return yards this season, breaking the record of 1,055 yards
previously set by Karrington Bush of Texas State in 2008. He returned nine
kicks for 265 yards last week against the Bears. The conference record is held
by Nicholls State's Chika Madu, who totaled 304 yards on nine returns vs.
Stephen F. Austin just a week earlier on Oct. 22. Wells' 91-yard kickoff return
in the third quarter was the seventh-longest in Southeastern history.
Honorable Mention: Eddie Camara, Central Arkansas; Jordan Wiggs,
Stephen F. Austin; Craig Alaniz, Sam Houston State.
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.