NFL
By: Bill Carroll
Now that we have had a few weeks to see who’s who and what’s what, it’s increasingly clear which players truly deserve a deeper and more thorough study. Without further ado here are NBS New Nutties Week 4 By Bill Carroll:
FBS Defense
University of Cincinnati senior linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was a clear and present danger to the Hoosiers when he logged: 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries. Indiana had 104 plays in the contest, but Pace Jr. and the UC defense allowed just 3.3 yards per play. Pace Jr. leads the nation with 11 tackles for loss and ranks in the top 10 in tackles (46) and sacks (4.5).
Honorable Mention:
MTSU, DT, Zaylin Wood recorded two tackles, including two quarterback sacks, recovered one fumble, and intercepted one pass as Middle Tennessee State defeated 25th-ranked Miami, 45-31. Wood returned his interception 15 yards for a touchdown as the Blue Raiders improved to 3-1 with the victory.
FBS Offense
Ohio U, QB, Kurtis Rourke, the younger brother of great Ohio U, QB, Nathan Rourke, had a day that would have made Nathan and all of Victoria, British Columbia proud. Versus Fordham he ran for 45 yards and 1 TD on 10 carries. He also set career records for pass attempts (50) and pass completions (41) while matching his career high for passing touchdowns (4), but he also set a new single-game program high with 537 passing yards, breaking a record that was set in 1983.
Honorable Mention:
Tennessee, QB Hendon Hooker accounted for 461 yards (349 passing, 112 rushing) and three touchdowns as 11th-ranked Tennessee defeated 20th-ranked Florida, 38-33. Hooker completed 22-of-28 passes and two touchdowns while rushing for one more and 112 yards as the Volunteers improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2016.
FCS Defense
Stetson, Safety, Ja’Veon Ensley, was a force versus Morehead State in Pioneer Football League play. He finished with a game-high-tying eight tackles (four solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, a pass breakup, and a blocked punt. His first interception was in Stetson’s end zone preventing a score. He scored on a 32-yard pick-six helping to give the Hatters a 14-13 lead. He also blocked a punt in Morehead’s end and two plays later, Stetson scored a touchdown.
Honorable Mention:
LB, Elon, Marcus Hillman, the sophomore linebacker, Hillman recorded a team-high eight tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery to help Elon defeat 14th-ranked William & Mary on the Tribe’s own turf. He also forced and recovered a fumble.
FCS Offense
Fordham, WR, Fotis Kokosioulis, Kokosioulis is quarterback Tim DeMorat’s favorite target, it’s clear why. He was seemingly always open, with a jaw-dropping 13 receptions for a Patriot League-record 320 yards and a Fordham record-tying four touchdown catches in a 59-52 loss at Ohio U. While averaging 24.6 yards per catch, he posted the ninth-most receiving yards in an FCS game, this is the most by an FCS subdivision player against an FBS opponent, ever! He had He added a 24-yard kickoff return for 344 total yards.
Honorable Mention:
QB, Fordham, Tim DeMorat, who could be a Nutties winner every week. He posted what for him is a ‘ho hum’ day with 27 completions on 35 passes for 503 yards, 6 scores and also rushed for six net yards on three carries.
FCS Special Teams
Northern Colorado, RB, Elijah Dotson, helped lead Northern Colorado to a 35-14 win over Idaho State. He finished the game with 208 all-purpose yards, an 82-yard punt return touchdown and 102 yards rushing. Dotson became the first UNC player to return a punt for a score since 2015.
Honorable Mention:
LIU PK Michael Coney, set the Northeast Conference record and became the first FCS player to kick five field goals in a game this season as LIU lost to Bryant 31-29. He didn’t miss a kick, adding two extra points to his field goals of 34, 19, 30, 41, and 28.
Division II Defense
Linebacker, Ouachita Baptist, Jax Miller was instrumental in the Tigers’ victory over #7 Harding as he was involved in tackles on 21 of 68 total plays. Miller’s 21 total tackles set a new program record in the NCAA era. and was a key factor in limiting Harding to 4.8 yards per carry, a full two yards under the Bisons’ average coming into the game. He had four solo stops and 17 assisted tackles. It was just the second 20-tackle performance in Ouachita’s time as a member of the NCAA Division II. Elijah Jones reached 20 in a 40-37 win over Southern Arkansas in 2016.
Honorable Mention:
Linebacker, Lane, Jeffrey Johnson, the hybrid S/Linebacker had seven solo tackles, and helped out on five others, with 3 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a sack.
Division II Offense
Limestone Running Back, Tre Stewart, set a school record for rushing yards in a game with 320 yards on 21 carries in Limestone’s win over UVA-Wise. Stewart averaged 15.2 yards per carry and
garnered three rushing touchdowns. He also added a pair of pass receptions for 20 yards.
Honorable Mention:
QB, Isaiah Freeman of Lincoln (PA) had a splendid performance as the freshman signal-caller passed for a career-high 298 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 16-of-27 attempts and added another score on the ground. On the game-winning eight-play, 1:05 drive, the Chester, PA native completed passes of 23 and 25 yards and drew a 15-yard pass interference to set up the game-winning field goal as time expired.
Division II Special Teams
UNCP, Defensive Back, Dante Bowlding had 119 total return yards, including 40 on two kick returns and 79 yards on two punts returned. This included a score on a 60 return. For the season he is averaging 28 yards per kick-off return and 23.5 yards per punt return.
Honorable Mention:
Winona State, PK, Jacob Scott had a perfect afternoon in Winona State’s victory over MSU Moorhead. The sophomore place-kicker accounted for 16 points, drilling all four field goals and all four points after. His field goals were pure from 42, 43, 48, and 48. He is the first Winona State player to kick four field goals over 40 yards in a single game.
