FRISCO – SFA running back Jerrell Wimbley, UIW linebacker Declan Williams, and Lamar wide receiver and specialist Kyndon Fuselier have been named the Southland Conference football weekly award winners for Week 5, the league announced Monday.
Offensive Player of the Week: Jerrell Wimbley, SFA – RB – Sr. – Houston, Texas (C.E. King HS)
Wimbley’s 43-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes to play capped an impressive effort from the senior back. He carried 29 times for 171 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. His scoring run pushed the veteran ‘Jack past the 2,000-yard career rushing mark, making him just the 11th player in program history to reach the milestone. Through five weeks, Wimbley is the only Southland back with two 100-yard rushing games.
Defensive Player of the Week: Declan Williams, UIW – LB – Sr. – Hamilton, Texas (Paul VI HS)
Facing a top-15 nationally-ranked opponent, Williams anchored a dominant defensive performance, holding ACU to just one score. He tallied eight total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack. Late in the third quarter, with UIW leading 24-7, Williams stepped in front of a pass and returned it 28 yards for a pick-six that put the Cardinals firmly in control. Overall, UIW held ACU to just 248 total yards and forced two turnovers.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Kylon Harris, SFA – WR – Sr. – Reserve, La. (East St. John HS)
Fuselier consistently provided Lamar with strong field position, returning three punts for 97 yards and averaging 32.3 yards per return. After Lamar’s defense forced back-to-back three-and-outs, he delivered returns of 39 and 44 yards into UCA territory, setting up a pair of touchdowns in the opening five minutes. He later added a 14-yard return in the second half.
Honorable Mention: Jack Hunter, Southeastern and Carlos Alvarado, SFA
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 |
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.