RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the football players of the week for the eighth week of the season.Southwestern Oklahoma State’s Baylor Nash won the Offensive Player accolade; Harding’s Kaden Spencer claimed the Defensive Player honor and Southern Arkansas’ Natae Coleman earned the Special Teams award.
#theGAC FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Baylor Nash, WR, Southwestern Oklahoma State, Jr., South Coffeyville, Oklahoma
Nash became the first GAC player with three receiving touchdowns in a game in more than two years when he caught three scores in the Bulldogs’ 38-14 home win against East Central. He caught six passes for a career-high 146 yards. He scored on plays of 26, 29 and 46 yards.
#theGAC FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kaden Spencer, DE, Harding, Fr., Springdale, Arkansas
Spencer led the Harding defense in its 55-0 home victory against Arkansas-Monticello for its third shutout of the season. He registered four tackles, including a career-high 3.0 tackles-for-loss. For the second-straight week, he collected 1.5 sacks. His 6.0 sacks lead all Division II freshmen and rank third among all freshmen.
#theGAC FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Natae Coleman, S/T, Southern Arkansas, Jr, Beaumont, Texas
Coleman blocked and recovered a Ouachita Baptist fourth-quarter punt for a touchdown. The play represented SAU’s first blocked block since September 9, 2017 against Harding. It gave the Muleriders their first punt return touchdown since Jared Lancaster against Arkansas Tech on August 30th, 2018.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Kaedric Cobbs, RB (Northwestern Oklahoma State), Hezekiah Harris, QB (Southern Arkansas), Kameron Lockhart, RB (Southeastern Oklahoma State), Tre Nichols, QB (Ouachita Baptist), Josh Strickland, Jr., FB (Harding)
Justin Crutchmer, LB (Ouachita Baptist), Ken Ellison, LB (Southern Arkansas), Colt Humphrey, LB (Oklahoma Baptist), Leo Morris, DB (Henderson State), Zack Roberts, DB (Southwestern Oklahoma State), De'Angelo Shanks, DL (Southeastern Oklahoma State)
Ethan McBee, K (Southwestern Oklahoma State), Patrick Maxwell, P (Oklahoma Baptist), Nick Parker, P (Ouachita Baptist), Carldell Sirmons, KR (Arkansas Tech)
A three-person committee selects all GAC Athlete of the Week awards