Marist’s Amin Woods, Harvard’s AJ Lopez, New Hampshire’s Charles Briscoe III and Lafayette’s Dean DeNobile were selected Monday as the FedEx Ground FCS National Players of the Week for Week 5 college football games ending this past Saturday.
In addition, South Dakota was named the FCS National Team of the Week.
The five honorees plus honorable mention selections:
FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Amin Woods, Marist, RB, R-Jr., 5-9, 205, Cornwall, New York
After Woods rushed for a 67-yard touchdown on Marist’s first play from scrimmage, the Red Foxes kept feeding the ball to him, and he carried it 38 times for 232 yards in a 34-24 victory over Stetson in the Pioneer Football League. He became their first 200-yard rusher since 2008 and matched the program’s single-game record for carries. He also had a 12-yard reception to double up his previous high in yards from scrimmage with 244.
Honorable Mention: Mari Adams, RB, Davidson; Aaron Allen, QB, Alcorn State; Sean Chambers, QB, Montana State; Mike DiLiello, QB, Austin Peay; Nolan Grooms, QB, Yale; Michael Hiers, QB, Samford; Nathan Kent, QB, Towson; Dominic Kibby, WR, Presbyterian; Brian Maurer, QB, Stephen F. Austin; Desmond Reid, RB, Western Carolina; Davius Richard, QB, North Carolina Central; Derek Robertson, QB, Maine; Ian Wheeler, RB/KR, Howard; Jake Wilcox, QB, Brown; Anthony Woods, RB, Idaho
FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
AJ Lopez, Harvard, CB, So., 6-0, 170, Loganville, Georgia
Lopez helped lead a defensive effort that stymied Holy Cross All-America quarterback Matthew Sluka in Harvard’s 38-28 victory, which ended the Crusaders’ 19-game regular-season winning streak against non-league opponents. He had five tackles, including three solos, and returned his first career interception for a touchdown late in the second quarter. In the fourth, his second forced fumble of the season stopped another drive and he added a pass breakup as the Crimson (3-0) remained one of just three unbeaten FCS teams.
Honorable Mention: Shelton Arnold II, DB, ETSU; Monroe Beard III, LB, Tennessee State; Javon Carter, DE, Grambling State; Caleb Curtain, DB, Elon; Jayden Flaker, LB, North Carolina Central; Stanley Garner, DB, Hampton; Jalyx Hunt, DE/LB, Houston Christian; Blake Logan, LB, Eastern Kentucky; Tyler Morton, S, Nicholls; Winston Reid, LB, Weber State; Blake Ruffin, S, Eastern Illinois; Billy Shaeffer, LB, Lafayette; Dennis Shorter, SS, South Dakota; B.J. Turner, ILB, North Carolina A&T
FedEx Ground FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Charles Briscoe III, New Hampshire, CB, Sr., 6-1, 202, Bowie, Maryland
Briscoe had a dominating performance in the Wildcats’ 54-51 overtime loss to Towson in CAA Football. He blocked two punts, one which he recovered for a touchdown and the other setting up a UNH touchdown drive, and forced a fumble on the kickoff that opened the second half. His recovery occurred in the Towson end zone and gave the Wildcats a 48-38 lead. He also had three tackles.
Honorable Mention: Nate Brackett, P, ETSU; Clayton Crile, PK, Chattanooga; Kylan Dupre, P, Nicholls; Devron Harper, WR/RS, Mercer; Orion Phillips, P, Murray State; Rahkeem Smith, WR/RS, Delaware State; Alyas Vigil, P, Southern Utah; Owen Zalc, PK, Dartmouth
FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Dean DeNobile, Lafayette, QB, R-Fr., 6-1, 192, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
DeNobile threw touchdowns to four different receivers during the second quarter of Lafayette’s 56-22 win over Bucknell in a Patriot League opener. He also set season and career highs in completions (16), attempts (23), passing yards (229) and passer rating (210.6), while adding 10 rushing yards, as the Leopards improved to 4-1 for the first time since 2009.
Honorable Mention: Carter Gaskins, LB, Stetson; Carter Glassmyer, LB, Saint Francis; Garrett Hawkins, LB, Austin Peay; Piez Lawrence, RB, Indiana State; Gavin Lochow, WR/KR, Dayton; Kevin White, QB, North Carolina A&T; Griffin Woodell, RB, UAlbany
FedEx Ground FCS National Team of the Week
South Dakota (24-19 win at then-No. 2 North Dakota State)
Incredibly, the Coyotes have defeated a nationally ranked opponent in every season since 2013. They never trailed in their Missouri Valley Football Conference upset, with Aidan Bouman’s 50- and 52-yard touchdown passes to Carter Bell fueling a 21-3 halftime lead. Linebacker Brock Mogensen had a game-high 13 tackles, and safety Dennis Shorter added 11 stops plus a midfield interception and one to deny a two-point conversion.
Honorable Mention: Georgetown (28-24 win over Fordham); Harvard (38-28 win over then-No. 6 Holy Cross); Towson (54-51 OT win at then-No. 14 New Hampshire)
