FCS Football Awards: West Georgia Headlines Weeks 0 and 1

Opta Analyst’s FCS football coverage includes weekly national player and team honors throughout the regular season and will lead toward the annual season-ending FCS National Award Banquet, scheduled for Jan. 4 in Frisco, Texas. 

Abilene Christian’s Maverick McIvor, Dayton’s Gideon Lampron, Mercer’s Brayden Smith and Montana State’s Adam Jones were selected Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players of the Week for weeks 0 and 1 college football games through Sunday.

In addition, West Georgia was named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.

The five honorees plus honorable mention selections for the weekly FCS Football Awards:

FCS National Offensive Player of the Week

Maverick McIvor, Abilene Christian, QB, Grad, 6-2, 210, San Angelo, Texas

Abilene Christian’s third-year quarterback originally signed with Texas Tech as a high school recruit and nearly led a huge upset before his United Athletic Conference team fell 52-51 in overtime. He completed 36 of 51 passes for 506 yards (tying for the second-most in program history) and three touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Efton Chism III, WR, Eastern Washington; Devin Farrell, QB, Rhode Island; Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State; ShunDerrick Powell, RB, Central Arkansas; Daniel Richardson, QB, Florida A&M

FCS National Defensive Player of the Week

Gideon Lampron, Dayton, LB, R-So., 5-11, 215, LaGrange, Ohio

Lampron’s middle name is ESPN, and he kept making plays of the day in the Pioneer Football League team’s 18-10 win over Saint Francis. He collected 11 tackles, including a sack that resulted in a safety as well as two other tackles for losses. He also forced two fumbles, recovering one himself to set up the game’s first touchdown.

Honorable Mention: Porter Connors, LB, UC Davis; Micah Davey, LB, McNeese; Jaxton Eck, LB, Idaho; Curtis Harris-Lopez, S, Holy Cross; Paul Tangelo, LB, Saint Francis

FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week

Brayden Smith, Mercer, WR/RS, So., 5-10, 210, Mac, Georgia

Mercer lost key playmakers after last season, but Smith proved to be a solution in the Southern Conference squad’s 63-10 win over Presbyterian. He returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown; had three kickoff returns for 69 yards; caught three passes for 83 yards, including a 68-yard TD; and had an 11-yard rush. His 238 all-purpose yards marked the FCS Week 1 high.

Honorable Mention: DC Pippin, PK, Southeast Missouri; Jeff Yurk, P, Elon

FCS National Freshman Player of the Week

Adam Jones, Montana State, RB, R-Fr., 6-1, 200, Missoula, Montana

Jones has played a big role in his Big Sky team’s 2-0 start. He carried the ball 17 times for 167 yards (including a 93-yard touchdown) in a 35-31 FBS win at New Mexico. He then rushed for 62 yards and a TD on 11 carries in a 31-7 triumph at Utah Tech. A strong pass blocker, he also catches passes, with five receptions across the two wins.

Honorable Mention: Dalton Bailey, WR, Stetson

FCS National Team of the Week

West Georgia (38-29 win over Samford)

In its first game on the Division I level, West Georgia stunned Samford, the 2022 Southern Conference champ and an FCS quarterfinalist. The win also was coach Joel Taylor’s first with the UAC program. The Wolves meant business from the start with a 71-yard flea-flicker on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Davin Wydner accounted for 329 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Montana State (35-31 win at New Mexico and 31-7 win at Utah Tech); The Citadel (22-21 win at Charleston Southern)

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