Southland Conference Announces Football Players of the Week

UCA takes two weekly honors after win over Arkansas State

FRISCO, TEXAS (September 26, 2017) Stephen F. Austin senior quarterback Hunter Taylor, Central Arkansas junior rover George Odum and UCA junior cornerback Tremon Smith earned Southland Conference Football Player of the Week honors presented by UniversalCoin.com, the league office announced Monday. Taylor took offensive honors while Odum was named defensive player of the week and Smith was tabbed the top special teams player.

Offensive Player of the Week:  Hunter Taylor, Stephen F. Austin

Taylor set careers highs with 376 passing yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in Stephen F. Austin’s 41-30 win over Abilene Christian. The senior from Whitehouse, Texas (Whitehouse H.S.), completed 31 of 46 passes and had touchdowns of 37, 18, seven and three yards. Taylor also rushed for 16 yards to give him 392 yards of total offense on the night. This marks the third consecutive game in which Taylor entered the contest and led the Lumberjacks to a win.

Honorable Mention: Hayden Hildebrand, Central Arkansas; Justin Alo, Southeastern Louisiana; Dontrell Taylor, Nicholls.

Defensive Player of the Week:  George Odum, Central Arkansas

Odum was an integral part of the Central Arkansas defense that limited Arkansas State to just 45 rushing yards on 34 attempts in the Bears’ 28-23 win over the Red Wolves. The junior from Millington, Tenn. (Millington Central H.S.), did it all with 11 total tackles, including three for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbled. Odum forced a fumble on Arkansas State’s next-to-last possession that allowed the Bears to hold on for the win.

Honorable Mention:  B.T. Sanders, Nicholls; P.J. Hall, Sam Houston State; Price Sanders, Stephen F. Austin.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Tremon Smith, Central Arkansas

Smith, a junior from Anniston, Ala. (Saks H.S.), returned a punt 47 yards for a first-quarter touchdown in UCA’s 28-23 win over FBS-foe Arkansas State. The punt return gave the Bears an early 7-3 lead in the contest. Smith also had an interception and 121 total return years in the victory.

Honorable Mention: Khalil Harris, McNeese; Stefano Guarisco, Nicholls; Jaylen Harris, Sam Houston State.

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.