MEAC: Week 1 Players Of The Week
North Carolina A&T State quarterback Lamar Raynard (Offensive), South Carolina State linebacker Darius Leonard (Defensive), North Carolina A&T State Brandon Parker (Offensive Lineman), North Carolina A&T State punt returner Khris Gardin (Specialist) and Howard wide receiver Kyle Anthony (Rookie) took home the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference weekly football honors of the 2016 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK LAMAR RAYNARD NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE QB 6-4, 176, So. HIGH POINT, N.C. Raynard accounted for three of the Aggies' nine touchdowns in their win on Saturday versus Saint Augustine's. The High Point, N.C. native had a near-perfect passing performance as he completed 18-of-22 passes (81.8 percent) for 149 yards. He also passed for two touchdowns rushed for another. He also completed his first seven passes to open the contest. Raynard was also named a STATS FCS Honorable Mention Offensive Player of the Week for his outing. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK DARIUS LEONARD SOUTH CAROLINA STATE LB 6-2, 225, R-Jr. LAKE VIEW, S.C. The 2016 MEAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year led the MEAC in tackles this past weekend with 16 stops on the road at Central Florida on Saturday. He also broke up and defended a pair of passes in addition to forcing a fumble early in the third quarter. SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK KHRIS GARDIN NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE PR 5-7, 158, Jr. MORGANTON, N.C. The 2016 FCS Preseason All-American picked up where he left off last season with a 50-yard punt return for a touchdown against Saint Augustine’s Saturday night. Gardin totaled three returns on the evening.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK BRANDON PARKER NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE OL 6-7, 279, Jr. KANNAPOLIS, N.C. Parker graded out at 92 percent and had three pancake blocks as North Carolina A&T State finished with 428 total offensive yards on Saturday. The Aggies combined to rush for 201 yards on the ground while completing 18 pass attempts and eight total touchdowns in the win over Saint Augustine’s.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK KYLE ANTHONY HOWARD WR 6-3, 185, FR. MIRAMIR, FLA.
Anthony had an impressive debut with 78 receiving yards on seven receptions at Maryland. The true freshman also scored both of Howard’s touchdowns while averaging 11.1 yards per reception.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS Colby Blanton (P/FAMU) Averaged 39.8 yards per punt on eight punts with a long of 51 yards. Walter Brantly IV (DE/NSU) Compiled a half-a-sack and forced a fumble, which he also recovered, that ended an early fourth-quarter Viking drive.
Bishop Ford (KR/SCSU) Returned five kickoff returns for 103 yards along with two receptions for 23 yards. Finished with 128 all-purpose yards. Greg Hankerson, Jr. (QB/NSU) Hankerson, Jr. led Norfolk State to its first season-opening win since 2012 as the senior amassed 205 yards of total offense. The Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. native passed for 151 yards and tossed two touchdown passes while also rushing for 54 yards on 13 attempts.
Ron Hunt (WR/NCAT) Caught two receptions for 62 yards and scored his first career touchdown in his Aggie debut. Alden McClellon (DB/NCCU) Recorded team-high 8 tackles (5 solo), including 2.5 takedowns for a loss of 12 yards and an unassisted sack with a forced fumble against ACC opponent Duke University. Brandon McLaren (PK/NCCU) Accounted for all of NCCU’s scoring at Duke with a pair of field goals, including a career-long 48-yard boot, the longest field goal by an Eagle since 2013. Joshua Patrick (LB/NCAT) Patrick caused a fumble on a sack in the first half that led to the Aggies’ first touchdown of the game. He also made five solo tackles and two sacks.
Jerome Pettiway (P/SCSU) Averaged 38 yards per punt on nine punts. Finished with 342 total punting yards with two punts inside the 20.
Bobby Price (DB/NSU) Led NSU in tackles with eight, starting the game at free safety in his first game in a Spartan uniform.
Elijah Price (DE/FAMU) Led the Rattlers with five tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. Rashawn Proctor (WR/Hampton) Finished the season opener with 161 receiving yards on 9 receptions at Old Dominion.
Lamar Raynard (QB/NCAT) Accounted for three of the Aggies’ nine touchdowns on Saturday as he threw two and had one rushing touchdown. Devin Vandyke (LB/Hampton) Compiled 10 tackles, a half-tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in his Pirate debut at Old Dominion.
Caleb York (QB/SCSU) Finished 15-for-35 with 134 yards passing while also rushing for 38 yards on 10 carries at UCF.
