Southland Conference Announces Football Players of the Week
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Northwestern State junior running back De’Mard Llorens, Abilene Christian freshman cornerback Jabari Butler and UIW sophomore kick returner/wide receiver Kody Edwards earned Southland Conference Football Player of the Week honors presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league office announced Monday. Llorens took offensive honors while Butler was named defensive player of the week and Edwards was tabbed the top special teams player.
Offensive Player of the Week: De’Mard Llorens, Northwestern State
Llorens tied a school record with four touchdown runs in Northwestern State’s 37-21 win over Nicholls. The junior from Natchitoches, La. (Natchitoches Central H.S.), rushed for a career-high 166 yards on 23 carries, which is the best running performance by a Demon since 2008. It was Llorens’ second 100-yard rushing game in the last three contests.
Honorable Mention: Blake Veasley, Central Arkansas; Kade Harrington, Lamar; Zach Conque, Stephen F. Austin.
Defensive Player of the Week: Jabari Butler, Abilene Christian
Butler continued his solid freshman campaign with a pair of interceptions in Abilene Christian’s 15-13 loss to No. 7 McNeese State. The cornerback from Potomac, Md. (Bishop Gorman H.S.), now leads the league with six interceptions on the season, which is the most by a Wildcat since 2003. Butler spearheaded the Wildcat defense that limited the Cowboys to just 138 passing yards and only 306 total yards of offense. The Wildcats held the Cowboys to their lowest scoring output on the season, allowing only one touchdown on the day.
Honorable Mention: P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State; Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas; Tre Rosser, Stephen F. Austin.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Kody Edwards, UIW
Edwards, a sophomore from Mesquite, Texas (Poteet H.S.), set a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half in UIW’s game against Stephen F. Austin. His 186 total return yards on five kickoffs are the most return yards in a single game in UIW history. Edwards added five catches for 74 yards to finish the game with 261 all-purpose yards.
Honorable Mention: Seth Ellis, Lamar; Jean Breaux, McNeese State; Mason Juhl, Stephen F. Austin.
Each school’s sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.