Courtesy of the Southwestern Athletic Conference:
The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Grambling State’s Quaterius Hawkins along with Jackson State’s Nyles Gaddy, Alejandro Mata, and Sy’veon Wilkerson its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their outstanding performances during games played this past week of competition.
Offensive- Hawkins put on a showcase in the second quarter of Grambling State’s game versus Northwestern State on Saturday. He contributed touchdown passes of 83 yards, 20 yards and 71 yards as he threw for 292 yards in the first half. His efforts helped GSU build a 41-7 halftime lead over Northwestern State. Hawkins finished the night 13-of-23 for 293 yards to go along with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Defensive- Gaddy tallied a career-high 3.5 sacks while also contributing a career-high 4.0 tackles for loss in Jackson State’s 16-3 win over Tennessee State on Saturday. His efforts on the defensive side of the ball helped limit Tennessee State to 140 total yards, including only two yards rushing.
Specialist- Mata made three field goals and an extra point in Jackson State’s 16-3 win over Tennessee State on Saturday. In a defensive battle, his three field goals from 28, 27, and 30 yards in the second and third quarters erased a first-quarter deficit and provided JSU the lead for good. It also marked the first time a JSU kicker has connected on three field goal attempts in a game since 2014.
Newcomer- Wilkerson amassed 109 yards of total offense in Jackson State’s 16-3 win over Tennessee State on Saturday. He tallied season highs in rushes (15), rushing yards (81), receptions (3) and receiving yards (28) as the Tigers defeated TSU at the Southern Heritage Classic.
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis and Volleyball.
