FRISCO, Texas – UIW running back Dekalon Taylor, UIW linebacker Mister Williams, and McNeese linebacker Cody Smith are the winners of the Jersey Mike's Southland Conference’s football weekly awards for the fourth week of the season, as announced by the conference office Monday.
Offensive Player of the Week: DeKalon Taylor, UIW – RB – Jr. – Longview, Texas (Longview HS)
DeKalon Taylor had himself a night, rushing for 190 yards and two touchdowns, while breaking a UIW record. His 35-yard rush down the middle tied up the game 14-14 in the second quarter against Northern Arizona. He then ran for an incredible 97 yards to the house, breaking the UIW record for longest play from scrimmage, which had been held by head coach Clint Killough since 2013. Taylor's performance fueled the Cardinals to a 38-14 victory over the Lumberjacks.
Defensive Player of the Week: Mister Williams, UIW – LB – R-Jr. – Canoga Park, Calif. (Canoga Park HS)
Mister Williams set the defensive tone for the Cardinals against Northern Arizona, finishing the night with 12 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one QBH. His 3.0 tackles for loss set the Lumberjacks back 17 yards and his forced fumble to end the second quarter put the Cardinals in field goal range as UIW took the lead heading into the locker room. Williams and the Cardinal defense pitched a shutout in the second half to pull away from Northern Arizona, 38-14.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Cody Smith, McNeese – LB – R-Fr. – Baker, La. (Zachary HS)
Cody Smith had a game-altering play in the first half against Alcorn State as he blocked a punt in the endzone, which was recovered by teammate Jaylen Jackson to put hte Cowboys ahead 21-0 in the first quarter. It was his first career blocked punt and the first for the Cowboys since the 2021 season.
Honorable Mention: Chris Campos, SFA
2024 Southland Football Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special Teams |
| Sept. 2 |
Jalen Walthall, UIW |
Eli Ennis, Nicholls |
Stephen Johnson, McNeese |
| Sept. 9 |
Ron Peace, Texas A&M-Commerce |
Blake Gotcher, Northwestern State |
Chase Leon, Lamar |
| Sept. 16 |
Clifton McDowell, McNeese |
DeJuan Lewis, Lamar |
Christian Booker, Lamar |
| Sept. 23 |
DeKalon Taylor, UIW |
Mister Williams, UIW |
Cody Smith, McNeese |
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on 25 percent of ballots.