This week's honorees are:
MAC East: Kevin Marks, (RB, Buffalo), Eddie Wilson (DT, Buffalo), Tyrone Hill (S, Buffalo)
MAC West: Justin Hall (WR, Ball State), Jaylin Thomas (LB, Ball State), Chad Ryland (K, Eastern Michigan)
(Click Read More for details . . . )
Offensive Player of the Week
Kevin Marks, Buffalo, RB
Junior, Norfolk, VA (Norview)
Marks rushed for a career-best 182 yards and two touchdowns on only 15 carries in Buffalo's win over Akron. The junior running back scored on a 24-yard run the first time he touched the ball and added a 23-yard touchdown run later in the second quarter. Marks averaged 12.1 yards per carry.
Defensive Player of the Week
Eddie Wilson, Buffalo, DT
Junior, Jersey City, NJ (Hoboken)
Wilson had three tackles and a sack in Buffalo's dominant defensive performance against Akron. The big defensive tackle led a defensive line that held the Zips to only 92 yards rushing and 204 yards of total offense. Wilson and the defense were especially dominant in the first half, limiting the Zips to only 86 yards of offense and four first downs.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Tyrone Hill, Buffalo, Safety
Senior, Passaic, NJ (Don Bosco Prep)
Hill made history on Saturday by being the first UB player to return a blocked field goal for a touchdown in the program's FBS era (since 1999). On an Akron 35-yard field goal attempt, Hill broke through the line, blocked the kick, scooped it up and scampered 63 yards for the touchdown to put the Bulls ahead 14-0.
West Division
Offensive Player of the Week
Justin Hall, Ball State, Wide Receiver
Senior, Douglasville, Ga. (Alexander)
Hall caught 10 passes for a career-high 175 yards and two touchdowns Saturday in Ball State's MAC West Division-clinching victory over Western Michigan. He also became the Cardinals' all-time receptions leader in the 30-27 victory, surpassing KeVonn Mabon's mark of 244 and finishing the day at 252. Hall caught touchdown passes of 32 and 55 yards on key drives to tie the game in the second and fourth quarters. It was the second two-touchdown game this season for college football's active leader in career receptions. Hall extended his FBS-leading active streak to 42 straight games with a catch while helping Ball State to its first MAC Championship Game berth since 2008.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jaylin Thomas, Ball State, Inside Linebacker
R-Senior, Lima, Ohio (Lima Senior)
Thomas led Ball State with a career-high 16 tackles Saturday, as the Cardinals secured their first MAC West Division championship since 2008 with a 30-27 victory over Western Michigan. His 16 tackles were the second-most by a MAC player in a game this year. Thomas spearheaded a defensive effort that held the nation's sixth-highest scoring team without a point over the final 24 minutes, as BSU erased a 14-point deficit to win. The Broncos' 27 points were 17 below their average. The MAC's active leader in tackles, Thomas raised his total to 277 for his career.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Chad Ryland, Eastern Michigan, K
Junior, Lebanon, Pa. (Cedar Crest)
Ryland became Eastern Michigan’s third all-time leader in made extra points (94) after he went 5-for-5 on PATs in EMU's victory over Northern Illinois, 41-33, Dec. 12. For Ryland, the five made extra points marked the second-consecutive game he’s knocked in at least five PATs, and the sixth time he’s accomplished the feat in his career. In addition to his five extra points, the Pennsylvania native nailed two field goals (39, 24) to topple the Huskies. The pair of field goals extended his flawless kicking streak to nine-straight with his last miss being a 53-yard try against Ball State, Nov. 11. The Cedar Crest, Pa.-product ultimately earned 11 points for the Eagles against Northern Illinois, marking the third time in the six-game season that Ryland has notched at least 10 points. Previously, Ryland had only recorded a game of 10-plus points twice (Pittsburgh, 2019, and Northern Illinois, 2018). Ryland also recorded his first-ever punt on a fake field goal attempt during the NIU contest. The 37-yard boot caught Northern Illinois off-guard, as he pinned the Huskies at their own one-yard line.