Keller Named Stats Perform FCS National Player of the Week
10/19/2026 8:38:00 AM | Football
Cornell's Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, Bethune-Cookman's Jaden Davis, Southeast Missouri's Justin Keller and Central Connecticut State's Davon Smith Jr. were selected on October 19 as the Stats Perform FCS National Players of the Week for Week 7 college football games.
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In addition, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks were named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.
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Following are this week's five honorees plus honorable mention selections:
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Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, Cornell, QB, Sr., 6-5, 248
Bass-Sulpizio accounted for 469 yards of total offense and three touchdowns as Ivy League member Cornell handed Lehigh its first defeat 48-38 – also ending the Mountain Hawks' 23-game regular-season winning streak. Working against one of the top-rated defenses in the FCS, the Big Red's second-year starter completed 22 of 34 attempts for 366 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 103 yards and one TD. Â
Honorable Mention:Â Jaylan Bean, WR, Alabama A&M; Cornelious Brown IV, QB, Alabama A&M; Floyd Chalk, RB, Southern Utah; Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni, RB, Yale; Kennedy McGill, QB, Western Illinois; Gerald Modest Jr., RB, Wofford; Joey Stout, WR/PR, Northern Arizona; Joseph Williams, RB/KR, Holy Cross; Joshua Wood, QB, Idaho
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Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Jaden Davis, Bethune-Cookman, S, R-Jr., 6-1, 180
Davis tied BCU's single-game record with three interceptions before capping a monster performance with a 61-yard scoop-and-score as the Wildcats beat Mississippi Valley State 34-14 in the SWAC. All four takeaways occurred in BCU territory. Davis also had a team-high and career-best nine tackles, including six solos and a third-down sack to force a punt.
Honorable Mention:Â Javon Bejarano, S, HCU; Jyarius Carter, LB, Mercer;Â Amanuel Dickson, LB, Robert Morris; Victor Holt, LB, UAlbany; Armani Itote, LB, Chicago State; Harrison Keith, S, Dartmouth; Joe Kingsbury, LB, Dayton; Drake Lusk, LB, Bryant; Grant Noland, DB, North Dakota; Cole Taylor, LB, Montana State
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Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Justin Keller, Southeast Missouri, PK, Grad, 5-11, 170
Keller had a career game with four field goals, including a career-best 54-yarder, and 14 points as Southeast Missouri defeated Western Illinois 40-30 to maintain a share of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. He connected from 47, 28, 54 (third-longest in SEMO history) and 23 yards, and made his two extra-point attempts to become 50 of 50 in his two seasons with the Redhawks. He also averaged 62.3 yards on eight kickoffs, including three touchbacks.
Honorable Mention:Â David Faulk, PK, Alabama A&M; Brett Gonda, P, Stetson; Tae Marrero Jr., Returns, Southern Illinois; Brandon Perez, PK, Abilene Christian; Tony Phillips Jr., KR, Grambling State; Liam Quigley, PK, New Haven
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Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Davon Smith Jr., Central Connecticut State, RB, R-Fr., 6-0, 190
With two-time defending NEC Football champion CCSU down 11 points in the second half, Smith took over to rush for three touchdowns in a 43-40 win at Mercyhurst. He scored on 36-, 2- and 1-yard runs while finishing with 162 yards on a career-high 25 carries, including 125 yards in the second half.
Honorable Mention:Â Gavin Beard, QB, Georgetown; Erick Bonner, CB, Davidson; Bryce Coleman, WR, Columbia; Ryder Hooks, RB, Eastern Kentucky; Kamerin McDowell-Moore, RB, Elon; Kenny Smith Jr., RB, Monmouth; Parker Vance, S, Southern Utah; Lynn Wyche-El, WR, Youngstown State
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Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week
North Dakota (21-10 win over South Dakota State)
The Fighting Hawks jumped to a 21-0 first-half lead on the way to defeating a No. 1-ranked team for the first time in their FCS era (since 2008). Jerry Kaminski passed for two touchdowns and Charles Langama scored on a 49-yard run. Grant Nolan had an FCS season-high six pass breakups for coach Eric Schmidt's Missouri Valley Football Conference squad (6-2, 3-1).
Honorable Mention:Â Cornell (48-38 win over Lehigh); Georgetown (27-17 win at Colgate); Idaho (42-35 win at Montana); Marist (27-22 win at Drake); Tennessee State (25-16 win over Morgan State)
Opta Analyst's FCS football coverage includes weekly national player and team honors during the regular season, leading into Stats Perform's season-ending awards, now in their 40th year.
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In addition, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks were named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.
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Following are this week's five honorees plus honorable mention selections:
Â
Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, Cornell, QB, Sr., 6-5, 248
Bass-Sulpizio accounted for 469 yards of total offense and three touchdowns as Ivy League member Cornell handed Lehigh its first defeat 48-38 – also ending the Mountain Hawks' 23-game regular-season winning streak. Working against one of the top-rated defenses in the FCS, the Big Red's second-year starter completed 22 of 34 attempts for 366 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball 17 times for a career-high 103 yards and one TD. Â
Honorable Mention:Â Jaylan Bean, WR, Alabama A&M; Cornelious Brown IV, QB, Alabama A&M; Floyd Chalk, RB, Southern Utah; Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni, RB, Yale; Kennedy McGill, QB, Western Illinois; Gerald Modest Jr., RB, Wofford; Joey Stout, WR/PR, Northern Arizona; Joseph Williams, RB/KR, Holy Cross; Joshua Wood, QB, Idaho
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Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Jaden Davis, Bethune-Cookman, S, R-Jr., 6-1, 180
Davis tied BCU's single-game record with three interceptions before capping a monster performance with a 61-yard scoop-and-score as the Wildcats beat Mississippi Valley State 34-14 in the SWAC. All four takeaways occurred in BCU territory. Davis also had a team-high and career-best nine tackles, including six solos and a third-down sack to force a punt.
Honorable Mention:Â Javon Bejarano, S, HCU; Jyarius Carter, LB, Mercer;Â Amanuel Dickson, LB, Robert Morris; Victor Holt, LB, UAlbany; Armani Itote, LB, Chicago State; Harrison Keith, S, Dartmouth; Joe Kingsbury, LB, Dayton; Drake Lusk, LB, Bryant; Grant Noland, DB, North Dakota; Cole Taylor, LB, Montana State
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Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Justin Keller, Southeast Missouri, PK, Grad, 5-11, 170
Keller had a career game with four field goals, including a career-best 54-yarder, and 14 points as Southeast Missouri defeated Western Illinois 40-30 to maintain a share of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. He connected from 47, 28, 54 (third-longest in SEMO history) and 23 yards, and made his two extra-point attempts to become 50 of 50 in his two seasons with the Redhawks. He also averaged 62.3 yards on eight kickoffs, including three touchbacks.
Honorable Mention:Â David Faulk, PK, Alabama A&M; Brett Gonda, P, Stetson; Tae Marrero Jr., Returns, Southern Illinois; Brandon Perez, PK, Abilene Christian; Tony Phillips Jr., KR, Grambling State; Liam Quigley, PK, New Haven
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Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Davon Smith Jr., Central Connecticut State, RB, R-Fr., 6-0, 190
With two-time defending NEC Football champion CCSU down 11 points in the second half, Smith took over to rush for three touchdowns in a 43-40 win at Mercyhurst. He scored on 36-, 2- and 1-yard runs while finishing with 162 yards on a career-high 25 carries, including 125 yards in the second half.
Honorable Mention:Â Gavin Beard, QB, Georgetown; Erick Bonner, CB, Davidson; Bryce Coleman, WR, Columbia; Ryder Hooks, RB, Eastern Kentucky; Kamerin McDowell-Moore, RB, Elon; Kenny Smith Jr., RB, Monmouth; Parker Vance, S, Southern Utah; Lynn Wyche-El, WR, Youngstown State
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Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week
North Dakota (21-10 win over South Dakota State)
The Fighting Hawks jumped to a 21-0 first-half lead on the way to defeating a No. 1-ranked team for the first time in their FCS era (since 2008). Jerry Kaminski passed for two touchdowns and Charles Langama scored on a 49-yard run. Grant Nolan had an FCS season-high six pass breakups for coach Eric Schmidt's Missouri Valley Football Conference squad (6-2, 3-1).
Honorable Mention:Â Cornell (48-38 win over Lehigh); Georgetown (27-17 win at Colgate); Idaho (42-35 win at Montana); Marist (27-22 win at Drake); Tennessee State (25-16 win over Morgan State)
Opta Analyst's FCS football coverage includes weekly national player and team honors during the regular season, leading into Stats Perform's season-ending awards, now in their 40th year.
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Players Mentioned
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