FRISCO – Nicholls running back Miequle Brock Jr., Northwestern State linebacker Fernando Washington, and Northwestern State punter Cooper Evans have been named the Southland Conference football weekly award winners for the season’s opening week, the league announced Monday.

Offensive Player of the Week: Miequle Brock Jr., Nicholls – RB – So. – Pensacola, Fla. (Pine Forest HS)
Brock scored both of the Colonels' touchdowns at Troy and totaled more than 100 yards of offense. He gave Nicholls a 10-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then caught a short pass early in the third and raced 58 yards for his second score of the night. He finished with six receptions for 87 yards and added 34 rushing yards on seven carries.
Honorable Mention: Eddie Lee Marburger, UTRGV

Defensive Player of the Week: Fernando Washington, Northwestern State – LB – Jr. – Macon, Ga. (Academic for Classical Education)
Washington was a defensive force for the Demons in their win over Alcorn State, making plays across the field and on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He led the team with eight tackles—six solo—including two tackles for loss and a sack for a total of 11 negative yards. Washington also broke up a third-down pass that forced Alcorn into its 51-yard field goal attempt, the Braves’ only points of the game. Behind his effort, the Demon defense forced three turnovers and did not allow a touchdown.
 
Special Teams Player of the Week: Cooper Evans, Northwestern State – P – R-Fr. – Athens, Ga. (South Florida/Clarke Central HS)
Evans helped the Demons win the field-position battle against Alcorn State. He averaged 44.7 yards per punt on the night, launching two kicks of 50+ yards, including a long of 55, and pinning three inside the 20. He placed punts at the 11- and 6-yard lines, forcing Alcorn to start deep in its own territory. The Braves’ average starting field position after an Evans punt was their own 24-yard line, and none of those drives resulted in points.
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Showalter, Nicholls
 
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

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.