Big Sky Conference

Northern Colorado QB Sloter comes off bench to earn national honors

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(STATS) – The key question at Western Carolina heading into the season was whether the Catamounts could replace quarterback Troy Mitchell, a 3 1/2-year starter and their all-time leader in total offense.

Redshirt freshman Tyrie Adams has proven to be the answer, which keeps the Catamounts dangerous in the Southern Conference.

Adams dressed for all the games last year, although he didn’t have his redshirt lifted, and learned just how to run the offense.

Adams, Northern Colorado’s Kyler Sloter, North Carolina A&T’s Jeremy Taylor and Georgetown’s Hunter Kiselick have been named the STATS FCS National Players of the Week for games played Sept. 8-10.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Kyle Sloter, Northern Colorado, QB, Sr., 6-4, 215, Johns Creek, Georgia

In a Big Sky Conference full of headliners at quarterback, Sloter isn’t as well known. But he came off the bench when starter Jacob Knipp suffered a shoulder injury on the Bears’ first series at Abilene Christian and produced 408 passing yards and seven total touchdowns in a 55-52 win. A transfer from Southern Miss last year, Sloter was the backup QB and a wide receiver as well a member of the return units in his first season with the Bears. Saturday night, he got his big chance, completing 25 of 32 attempts with six touchdowns – tying the school record and the most in the Bears’ Division I era – and one interception. He also rushed for a 22-yard TD.

Honorable Mention: Aaron Blockmon, WR, Campbell; Tarik Cohen, RB, North Carolina A&T; Peter Pujals, QB, Holy Cross; Spearman Robinson, WR, Western Carolina; Dallas Sealey, QB, Abilene Christian; Chris Streveler, QB, South Dakota; Christian Summers, WR, Towson

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jeremy Taylor, North Carolina A&T, Jr., 5-11, 181, Kinston, North Carolina

Taylor filled the box score to help N.C. A&T outlast Kent State 39-36 in four overtimes – the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s first win over an FBS opponent after three previous blowout losses. He led the Aggies defense with 15 tackles, including 12 solos. He had four tackles for loss, two sacks, intercepted a pass in his team’s end zone to prevent a touchdown and help force OT, broke up two other passes and forced a fumble and recovered it. Taylor was a high school teammate with Denzel Keyes, who caught the game-winning touchdown to end the fourth overtime.

Honorable Mention: Dee Delaney, CB, The Citadel; Nick DeLuca, LB, North Dakota State; Ebenezer Ogundeko, DE, Tennessee State; C.J. Parvelus, LB, Sacred Heart; John Walker, CB, Montana State

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Hunter Kiselick, Georgetown, Sr., DL, 6-1, 250, Nutley, New Jersey

Marist was 0 for 13 on third-down conversions against Georgetown, but Kiselick frustrated the host Red Foxes even more on fourth downs, blocking two field goal attempts to help his Patriot League team to a 20-17 win and its first 2-0 start since 2012. He blocked a 37-yard attempt in the second quarter to keep Marist’s 10-3 lead from growing. In the fourth quarter, he blocked a 48-yard attempt to preserve the Hoyas’ 20-17 advantage. Kiselick, a team captain, also had six tackles, a half sack in the fourth quarter and one pass breakup.

Honorable Mention: Mike Basile, S, Monmouth; Miles Bergner, PK, South Dakota; Austin Crimmins, PK/P, Duquesne; Jerry Louie McGee, PR, Montana; Austin Watts, RS, Texas Southern

FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina, QB, R-Fr., 6-2, 180, St. Petersburg, Florida

The suggestion that Adams has Armanti Edwards-type skills is high praise for Adams considering Edwards competed at former rival Appalachian State in the Southern Conference and was the only FCS player to win the national offensive player of the year award in two seasons. But Gardner-Webb saw firsthand when Adams had a school-record 510 yards of total offense in Western Carolina’s 44-14 win. Adams completed 36 of 43 passes for 427 yards and the first five touchdown passes of his career, and carried the ball 13 times for 83 yards. Adams also competes in track and field and was the Southern Conference high jump champion last spring.

Honorable Mention: Keylan Brown, RB, Davidson; McNeece Egbim, OLB, Missouri State; Frankie Hickson, RB, Liberty; A.J. Hines, RB, Duquesne; Pop Lacey, S, New Hampshire; Storm Ruiz, PK, Stephen F. Austin

Press release courtesy of Craig Haley – STATS. All Rights Reserved. 

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