INDIANAPOLIS – Southwest Baptist University junior running back Bubba Jenkins, Truman State University freshman defensive end Sam Reeves, and McKendree University junior defensive back Derrick Curry earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week honors in football, it was announced by the league office Monday.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Bubba Jenkins, Southwest Baptist
Jr., RB, Springfield, Missouri
Team Result: 54-34 win at Central State
- Rushed for 183 yards on 29 carries with three touchdowns (2, 4, 5 yards)
- Averaged 6.3 yards per carry
- Broke SBU single-season rushing yards record (1,411 yards through 10 games)
- Became the new GLVC career rushing leader (2,875 yards)
- Earns his third career Offensive Player of the Week award (9/19/16, 9/28/15)
- Last Southwest Baptist Offensive Player of the Week: TJ Edwards (10/5/15)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sam Reeves, Truman State
Fr., DE, Eloy, Arizona
Team Result: 23-3 win at Saint Joseph’s
- Led Truman with six total tackles (five solo) and three sacks
- Recorded most single-game sacks by a Bulldog since Nic Abbate against Southwest Baptist in 2011 and tied for most in a single-game since at least 1997
- Helped Bulldogs hold Saint Joseph’s to 221 total yards (3.7 yards per play) and only 84 yards in the second half
- Guided a defensive unit that finished with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss
- Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week award
- Last Truman State Defensive Player of the Week: Austin Zoda (10/28/13)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Derrick Curry, McKendree
Jr., DB, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Team Result: 35-17 win at Quincy
- Collected first career punt return for a touchdown (64 yards)
- Marked McKendree’s first punt return for a touchdown since 2013
- Recorded four returns for 79 yards, averaging 19.8 yards per return
- Has posted 37 punt returns this season, which is five shy of Bearcats’ single-season record of 42 set by Adam Clapp in 2006.
- Also netted three solo tackles against the Hawks
- Earns his first career Special Teams Player of the Week award
- Last McKendree Special Teams Player of the Week: Steven O’Block (10/31/16)
- Fourth-straight McKendree Special Teams Player of the Week award