FRISCO – McNeese quarterback Jake Strong, Lamar defensive lineman Andrew Huff, and SFA return specialist Bugs Mortimer have been named the Southland Conference football weekly award winners for Week 11, the league announced Monday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Jake Strong, McNeese – QB – So. – Justin, Texas (Northwest HS)
Strong totaled 307 total offensive yards and two touchdowns in McNeese's 35-20 win at East Texas A&M on Saturday. He ran for a career-high 136 yards and a touchdown, that coming on a 48-yards sprint up the middle and completed 10 of 18 passes for 171 yards, a TD, that being a 39-yard lob into the endzone for the score. The running total marked the second time to hit the century mark on the season for Strong. It is Strong's third time earning Southland Offensive Player of the Week.
Honorable Mention: Nathan Denney, UTRGV
Defensive Player of the Week: Andrew Huff, Lamar – DL – Jr. – Stafford, Texas (Stafford HS)
Huff led an impressive defensive effort for Lamar against one of the top offenses in the country. He recorded a team-high seven tackles, with three solo stops and two sacks as the Cardinals held Southeastern off the scoreboard until the third quarter and their lowest offensive output against an FCS squad this season. Both of Huff's sacks came in the first half as Lamar pitched a shutout over the Lions throughout the first 30 minutes.
Honorable Mention: Phillip Bradford, McNeese
Special Teams Player of the Week: Bugs Mortimer, SFA – WR/PR – Jr. – Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard HS)
Mortimer registered a nation leading third punt return touchdown of the season as he went 74 yards for the game's first score. He finished with 93 total punt return yards and crossed over 100 all-purpose yards with a 12-yard catch. He is the first SFA player since at least 2002 with three punt return TDs in a single 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* |
| Oct. 13 |
Xai'Shaun Edwards, HCU |
Ronnie Hamrick II, Lamar |
Brady Young, HCU |
| Oct. 20 |
Jake Strong, McNeese |
Kyree Anderson, East Texas A&M |
Ben Woodard, Lamar* |
| Oct. 27 |
Eddie Lee Marburger, UTRGV |
Ty Marsh, Nicholls |
Brandon Hayes, Southeastern |
| Nov. 3 |
Jaylon Domingeaux, Southeastern |
Phillip Bradford, McNeese |
Dkhai Joseph, Southeastern |
| Nov. 10 |
Jake Strong, McNeese |
Andrew Huff, Lamar |
Bugs Mortimer, SFA |
* - 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.