East Division honorees are: Kato Nelson (Akron), Chuck Harris (Buffalo) and Nick Gasser (Akron).
West Division honorees are: Terry Swanson (Toledo), Sutton Smith (Northern Illinois) and Paulie Fricano (Eastern Michigan)
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Offensive Player of the Week: Akron QB Kato Nelson
Akron redshirt freshman Kato Nelson (Hollywood, Fla.) was 22-38 passing for a career-high 322 yards and career-best four touchdowns in only his second start in a 37-34 win over Ohio on Nov. 14. He also rushed for 45 yards. His 71-yard TD pass to Kwadarrius Smith was the team’s longest touchdown pass completion this season. In seven games, Nelson is 47-of-87 for 636 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensive Player of the Week: Buffalo DE Chuck Harris
Buffalo junior defensive end Chuck Harris (Detroit, Mich.) had a career-best 13 tackles and added a sack in Buffalo’s first-ever win at Ball State on Nov. 16. Harris also had three quarterback hurries in the game. His sack on Ball State’s final play of the game sealed the win for the Bulls.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Akron P/K Nick Gasser
Akron junior punter/kicker Nick Gasser (Liberty Township, Ohio) made one field goal and four PATs in a 37-34 win over Ohio on Nov. 14. Gasser nailed his first field goal, a 19-yard chip-shot to put Akron on the scoreboard in the first quarter. Gasser also kicked off seven times for 414 yards (59.1 average) and punted seven times for 277 yards (39.6 average).
Offensive Player of the Week: Toledo RB Terry Swanson
Toledo senior running back Terry Swanson (Aliquippa, Pa.) rushed a career-high 192 yards on 23 attempts in a 66-37 win at Bowling Green on Nov. 15. Swanson averaged 8.3 yards per carry and had nine rushes of at least 10 yards, with a long run of 25 yards. It was the 14th 100-yard rushing game of his career. Swanson now has 3,283 rushing yards for his career, passing six-year NFL veteran Jalen Parmele for sixth place on Toledo’s all-time rushing list.
Defensive Player of the Week: Northern Illinois DE Sutton Smith
Northern Illinois sophomore defensive end Sutton Smith (St. Charles, Mo.) continued his spectacular sophomore season with another record-setting performance in a 35-31 win over Western Michigan on Nov. 15. A week after breaking NIU’s single season record for tackles for loss, Smith set the Huskie record for quarterback sacks in a season after leading the NIU defense with 2.5 sacks against the Broncos to give him 13 for the season. The sacks were far from the whole story, though, as Smith totaled 5.5 tackles for loss, giving him a nation-leading 27.5 on the season, and for the second time this year, scored on a fumble recovery. With the score tied at 14 and Western Michigan on the Huskie 38-yard line after a seven-yard NIU punt, Smith picked up a fumble by Broncos’ quarterback Reece Goddard and ran 58 yards to give NIU a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. Smith totaled six tackles, five solo, in the game.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Eastern Michigan K Paulie Fricano
Eastern Michigan sophomore kicker Paulie Fricano (Rochester, N.Y.) was instrumental in the 27-24 win over Miami, Nov. 15. The placekicker hit both of his field goals, from 36 and 34 yards, as well as all three of his extra points to help his team to the three-point win over the RedHawks.