MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week
Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan, Quarterback
RS-So., Maryland Heights, Mo. (Pattonville)
Eleby picked the Pittsburgh defense apart in WMU's 44-41 win over the Panthers on Saturday. Eleby had season highs in completions with 23, passing yards with 336 and touchdowns with three. This was the first Power 5 win for Eleby in two career games against Power 5 teams and also the first Power 5 win for his head coach Tim Lester. With Eleby behind center the Broncos racked up 517 total yards to outgain Pitt's vaunted offense.
MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week
Zaire Barnes, Western Michigan, Linebacker
Junior, Mundenlein, Ill. (Carmel Catholic)
Barnes had a career-high 10 tackles to go with two tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries as the Broncos took down Power 5 Pittsburgh, 44-41. Both of Barnes' fumble recoveries led to WMU touchdowns that proved to be a big factor in WMU's close win.
MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Nathan Snyder, Ball State, P
5th Year Senior, Marysville, Ohio (Marysville HS)
Did not allow a single yard of returns. Has not allowed a yard of return yet this season, Pinned Wyoming inside the 20-yard line three times.
MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week
DJ Irons, Akron, QB
So. (R), Lawrenceville, Ga.
Irons turned in a breakout game to lift the Zips to a 35-14 victory over Bryant on Saturday. He finished the game accounting for 432 of Akron's 514 total yards of offense, including career-high marks in passing (296) and rushing (136). He finished the game 19-of-23 passing for 296 yards with three touchdown passes. He also recorded team-high marks in rushing with 136 yards on 15 carries, including a career-long run of 24 yards in the third quarter. He helped engineer 21 unanswered points for the Zips in the fourth quarter, including a 20-yard touchdown run as well as six-yard one-handed touchdown pass to Konata Mumpfield. Earlier in the game he connected on 38- and 24-yard touchdown passes to Michael Mathison and Oran Singleton, Jr. Irons has conneted on 44-of-58 passes for 534 yards and five touchdowns this season. He was perfect in debut as a Zip against Auburn, completing 13-of-13 passes for 129 yards with his first passing touchdown coming to Jonzell Norrils in the fourth quarter. He followed with a 19-of-23 effort for a career-high 296 yards versus Bryant. Irons is rated second in the NCAA in completion percentage (.759), 12th in passing efficiency (178.2), 18th in yards per pass attempt (9.21), 34th in points responsible for (42) and points responsible per tilt (14.0) and 43rd in passing touchdowns (5).
MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week
Taylor Riggins, Buffalo, Defensive End
Redshirt Fifth Year, Webster, NY (Aquinas Institute)
Defensive end Taylor Riggins had his way with 16th-ranked Coastal Carolina on Saturday, tying a career-high with seven tackles (all solo), two sacks, three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Both of his sacks came in the second quarter and helped the Bulls head to halftime tied at 14-14.
MAC East Division Special Teams Player of the Week
Jonah Wieland, Ohio, Punter
5th Year, Hudson, Ohio
Redshirt 5th year transfer punter Jonah Wieland led Ohio on special teams on Thursday at Louisiana. Wieland recorded four punts 165 yards for an average of 41.2 yards per punt, while recording a long punt of 46 yards, while placing two punts within the 20.