FRISCO – SFA quarterback Sam Vidlak, SFA linebacker Jaydon Southard, and Lamar wide receiver and specialist Kyndon Fuselier have been named the Southland Conference football weekly award winners for Week 6, the league announced Monday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Sam Vidlak, SFA – QB – Sr. – Applegate, Oregon (Hidden Valley HS)
Vidlak delivered an efficient performance, going 19-of-26 for 261 yards and three touchdowns to lead SFA to a road win at No. 20 UIW. He connected on touchdown passes of 20, 37, and 45 yards and added a 58-yard completion that set up another score. Vidlak’s second touchdown, a 37-yard strike to Derrick Bohler and the 36th of his career, pushed the senior past the 4,000-yard passing mark as a collegian. His 58-yard completion to Trae Wayland, which set up the ‘Jacks inside the UIW 5-yard line, also moved him into the top 10 all-time in SFA passing yards.
Honorable Mention: EJ Oakmon, East Texas A&M
Defensive Player of the Week: Jaydon Southard, SFA – LB – Sr. – Wichita Falls, Texas (Iowa Park HS) – FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Southard matched his career high with 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops, in Stephen F. Austin’s 31–17 win at UIW. Three of his tackles went for 19 yards in losses, including 1.5 sacks, and he also forced a fumble. Both his tackles for loss and sack totals marked new career bests. After never reaching double figures in tackles prior to this season, Southard has now done so four times in 2025 for the Lumberjacks.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Kyndon Fuselier, Lamar – WR – Sr. – Nederland, Texas (Nederland HS) – FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Fuselier fielded a punt down the middle of the field, weaved through four tacklers, and sprinted straight up the seam for an 88-yard touchdown with 3:36 remaining — the decisive score in Lamar’s 24–17 win over Nicholls. He finished with 104 punt-return yards, the FCS high for the second consecutive week, and added three receptions for 33 yards. Fuselier also scored on a punt return against Nicholls last season.
2025 Southland Football Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special Teams |
| Sept. 1 |
Miequle Brock, Jr., Nicholls |
Fernando Washington, Northwestern State |
Cooper Evans, Northwestern State |
| Sept. 8 |
Nathan Denney, UTRGV |
Kristian Pugh, Lamar |
Ben Woodard, Lamar |
| Sept. 15 |
Jake Strong, McNeese |
Andrew Huff, Lamar |
Kendric Malone, Lamar |
| Sept. 22 |
Jerrell Wimbley, SFA |
Rodney Dansby, HCU |
Kylon Harris, SFA |
| Sept. 29 |
Jerrell Wimbley, SFA |
Declan Williams, UIW |
Kyndon Fuselier, Lamar |
| Oct. 6 |
Sam Vidlak, SFA |
Jaydon Southard, SFA* |
Kyndon Fuselier, Lamar* |
* - Also named Stats Performn National Player of the Week
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.