In Week 10, two players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) earned recognition as FedEx FCS Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. The FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week title went to Jawarn Howell, a freshman from South Carolina State. Howell, despite being a true freshman, made a significant impact by rushing for 283 yards and scoring three touchdowns on 27 carries in a game against Howard, which South Carolina State won 27-24. Notably, he had two impressive long runs of 48 and 85 yards, contributing to his total of ten first downs. Over his last three games, Howell has accumulated an impressive 528 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 10.8 yards per carry.
On the defensive side, the FedEx Ground FCS National Defensive Player of the Week was awarded to Keenan Leachman, a graduate transfer playing for Alcorn State. In Week 10, Leachman demonstrated his prowess by creating three takeaways in a game against the Jaguars, played at home. Two of his forced turnovers directly led to scores for the Alcorn State Braves, who emerged victorious with a 44-21 win in a significant SWAC West Division matchup. Leachman’s standout plays included turning a strip sack into a 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown and scoring another touchdown on an 88-yard interception return. Additionally, he made another interception and was involved in three tackles, two of which were solo efforts.
