FRISCO, Texas — HCU quarterback Cutter Stewart and safety Javon Bejarano along with Southeastern kicker Drew Talley have earned this week's SLC Football Player of the Week awards, the conference office announced Monday morning. Stewart gets the nod for the second time this season while Talley and Bejarano are first-time winners.
Offensive Player of the Week: Cutter Stewart, HCU – QB – Sr. – Alice, Texas (Alice High School)
Stewart accounted for five touchdowns in the Huskies' win over East Texas A&M, rushing for a career-high 110 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing for 188 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. Stewart has now gone five games and 111 passing attempts without an interception.
Defensive Player of the Week: Javon Bejarano, HCU – S – Sr. – Cibolo, Texas (Steele High School)
Bejarano had another big performance for the Huskies, leading the team with 11 tackles (8 solo). He punctuated a big win for HCU with an interception returned for a touchdown, picking off a pass in the final minute and taking it 55 yards to the house — his second game in a row with a "pick-six." Bejarano also forced a fumble, his third of the year, and had a pass breakup.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Drew Talley, Southeastern – K – So. – Covington, La. (St. Paul's High School)
Talley was perfect on the day in Southeastern's 34-31 win over No. 10/8 Lamar - the Lions' first win over a ranked opponent since 2022. The sophomore connected on both of his field-goal attempts and remained perfect on PAT's this season, converting all four of his tries in Saturday's win.
2026 Southland Football Players of the Week
| Date |
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special Teams |
| Aug. 31 |
Cutter Stewart, HCU |
Jayven Anderson, HCU |
Lukasz Smolen, HCU |
| Sept. 7 |
Devin Lippold, McNeese |
Lowote Jurkin, SFA |
Carlos Alvarado, SFA |
| Sept. 14 |
Jackson Dufrene, Nicholls |
Kennon Loftin, Nicholls |
Andres Sandoval, Lamar |
| Sept. 21 |
Aiden Jakobsohn, UTRGV |
Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV |
Dkhai Joseph, Southeastern |
| Sept. 28 |
Chad Elzy Jr., Southeastern |
Landon Barrett, McNeese |
Caleb Holmes, Lamar |
| Oct. 5 |
Gavin Rutherford, SFA |
Mike Sylvalie, HCU |
Ozlo Rigby, East Texas A&M |
| Oct. 12 |
Jojo Uga, Lamar |
TJ Neal, UTRGV |
Mason Stallons, Lamar |
| Oct. 19 |
Cutter Stewart, HCU |
Javon Bejarano, HCU |
Drew Talley, Southeastern |