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OVC Football Players of the Week – October 2 (PDF)
OFFENSIVE
KD Humphries, QB • 6-3, 225, Sr. • Montgomery, Ala. • Murray State
Humphries completed an OVC record 49 passes (in 60 attempts) to account for 455 passing yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for another touchdown as Murray State topped Austin Peay 45-17 for its first victory of the season. The 49 completions broke the league record Humphries set against Tennessee Tech in 2014. The senior completed passes to 11 different receivers including throwing three touchdown passes to Jordon Gandy. Humphries had touchdown passes of 9, 15, 10, 9 and 12 yards while his rushing score was a 10-yarder to begin the third quarter (and put his team up 31-10). His 49 completions are the most by a FCS player this season and he is currently the only FCS quarterback to throw for at least 450 yards, pass for five touchdowns and complete at least 40 passes in a single game in 2016. Humphries currently ranks first nationally in completions/game (31.25), third in completion percentage (70.6%) and passing yards/game (329.3), fifth in total offense (322.0 yards/game) and 10th in total passing yards (1,317). Humphries now ranks third in OVC history for career completions (781), fifth in total offense (8,909 yards) and sixth in passing yards (8,657) and passing touchdowns (58).
Others Nominated: Tommy Hays, Austin Peay; Bennie Coney, Eastern Kentucky; Jesse Hosket, Southeast Missouri; Michael Birdsong, Tennessee Tech; Troy Cook, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
Chad Meredith, OLB • 6-5, 228, Jr. • Louisville, Ky. • Southeast Missouri
Meredith had a game-high 12 tackles (8 solo) as Southeast Missouri knocked off No. 13 Eastern Illinois 21-14 to improve to 2-0 in OVC play. He keyed a Redhawks defense that allowed only one offensive touchdown and 316 yards of total offense. With Eastern Illinois trailing by a touchdown and driving late in the fourth quarter, Meredith batted down a pass attempt on 3rd and 16, which allowed Southeast to stop the drive and not allow EIU to regain the ball the remainder of the game. Overall Southeast held Eastern Illinois to just 93 yards of total offense in the second half. It marked the second game this season Meredith has netted double-digit tackles.
Others Nominated: James Bond, Austin Peay; Pono Choy, Eastern Illinois; Jeffrey Canady, Eastern Kentucky; Dylan Boone, Murray State; Keith Jones, UT Martin.
SPECIALIST
Lane Clark, K • 5-11, 170, Jr. • Hays, Kan. • Tennessee State
Clark set the Tennessee State school record for longest field goal twice against UT Martin, hitting a 54-yarder in the second quarter and a 2016 NCAA-best 57-yarder with 7:27 to play as the Tigers won 34-30. The 57-yarder is the longest in any level of NCAA football this season (FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III) and the longest in the OVC over the past 15 years. Clark also added four PATs to account for 10 total points and had a pair of touchbacks on kickoffs. Clark currently ranks fifth nationally in field goals/game (1.50) and 29th in scoring (8.8 points/game).
Others Nominated: Nick Gauna, Austin Peay; Jared Sanders, Eastern Kentucky; Nick Madonia, Tennessee Tech.
NEWCOMER
Jesse Hosket, QB • 6-4, 221, Jr. • French Camp, Miss. • Southeast Missouri
Hosket, the transfer from East Central Community College, accounted for all three Southeast Missouri touchdowns in the Redhawks 21-14 victory over No. 13 Eastern Illinois. The junior completed 12-of-20 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns and rushed five times for 16 yards and another score. It marked the Redhawks first victory over a nationally-ranked team since 2014. Hosket scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 1-yard rush in the first quarter and then added a 62-yard pass to put Southeast up 14-0. With the score tied at 14 in the third quarter, he hooked up with Marquette Murdock for a 45-yard touchdown in what proved to be the game-winning score. It marked the fourth-straight game Hosket had passed for 200 or more yards in a game. Hosket is one of three OVC quarterback to have more than 1,000 passing yards this season (1,076, which ranks him 24th nationally).
Others Nominated: Tommy Hays, Austin Peay; Ryan Markush, Eastern Kentucky; Marico Paige, Murray State; Dontez Byrd, Tennessee Tech; Londell Lee, UT Martin.