OFFENSE - RB Donald Babers of Prairie View A&M; 5-9, 170 JR, Houston, TX

            Babers carried 27 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-14 win over Texas Southern. Babers had TD runs of 9 and 6 yards in the first half in leading the Panthers to their 5th consecutive season opening win.

DEFENSE - LB Marcellus Speaks, Jackson State; 6-2, 230 SR, Jackson, MS

            Speaks posted 12 tackles (four for loss) and had two forced fumbles in the Tigers’ 17-13 loss to Hampton in the 4th MEAC/SWAC Challenge. Speaks was also named Jackson State’s Most Outstanding Player of the Game.

SPECIALIST - RS Clarence Cotten, Mississippi Valley State; 5-10, 190 SR D’Iberville, MS

            Cotten averaged 18.5 yards on four punt returns in Delta Devils’ 38-0 win over Texas College. He had punt returns of 16, 20, 23, and 15 yards. Cotten’s 16 and 23-yard returns set up a pair of touchdowns.

NEWCOMER - RB Kenneth Batiste, Grambling State; 5-9, 175 R-Freshman, Lafayette, LA

            Batiste caught six passes for 95 yards and one touchdown in the Tigers’ season-opening loss at Nevada. Batiste led all players in receiving yards and had Grambling’s longest play, a 59-yard reception in the third quarter.

# SWAC #