This week's Missouri Valley Football Conference players of the week include TB Jaleel McLaughlin of Youngstown State; LB Adam Bock of South Dakota State; S Ryan Cole of Indiana State; PK Ryan O'Grady of Indiana State; CB/RS Montrae Braswell of Missouri State; and WR Naseim Brantley of Western Illinois.
Offense: TB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State
Co-Defense: LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State | S Ryan Cole, Indiana State
Co-Special Teams: PK Ryan O'Grady, Indiana State | CB/RS Montrae Braswell, Missouri State
Newcomer: WR Naseim Brantley, Western Illinois
Offensive Player of the Week
TB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State
5-9, 183, Sr. (Marshville, N.C./Forest Hills/Notre Dame (Ohio) H.S.)
McLaughlin rushed for 203 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in YSU's season-opening 31-14 win over Duquesne. McLaughlin scored on runs of three, 13 and 54 in the victory over the Dukes. It was his most rushing yards since the 2021 season-opening win against UIW.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State
6-1, 215, Jr. (Solon, Iowa/Solon H.S.)
Bock registered a game-high 13 tackles for a South Dakota State squad that did not allow a touchdown and limited Iowa to only 166 yards of total offense in a narrow 7-3 loss on Sept. 3. Bock also forced and recovered a fumble that thwarted a Hawkeye drive in the red zone late in the third quarter to keep SDSU within striking distance.
Co-Defensive Player of the Week
S Rylan Cole, Indiana State
6-0, 205, So. (McCordsville, Ind./Mt. Vernon H.S.)
Cole picked off two pa$$es, including the game-securing interception in overtime to lead Indiana State past North Alabama in the Sycamores’ season opener. The sophomore matched a career-high with eight tackles, while adding 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, and two pa$$ breakups. His first interception set up the short field for Indiana State’s go-ahead touchdown pa$$ in the fourth quarter, while he secured the final interception on the last play of the game on the desperation heave toward the end zone. He nearly added a third interception in the first half off a tipped ball. Cole’s 2.5 tackles-for-loss led the Sycamores to a Curt Mallory-era 15.0 tackle-for-loss game on the afternoon as the Sycamores limited the Lions to just eight total rushing yards.
Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
CB Montrae Braswell, Missouri State
6-0, 190, Jr. (Avon Park, Fla.)
Braswell broke loose for a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of MSU's road win at UCA. The return came on the heels of a UCA's first scoring drive of the game and Braswell's big play made it 27-7 at the time and seemed to put the game out of reach. It was Braswell's third career kick return TD and the seventh-longest kickoff return in Missouri State history. He averaged 65.0 yards on two kickoff return attempts in the win (the other was 32 yards).
Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
PK Ryan O’Grady, Indiana State
6-1, 180, Fr. (Lockport, Ill.)
O’Grady was clutch in his first career collegiate game as the freshman placekicker went a perfect 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts in Indiana State’s 17-14 win. He had joined the team midway through the preseason training camp and impressed the ISU coaching staff with his ability to connect in the clutch. It showed on Thursday night at Memorial Stadium as he knocked in field goals from 22 and 26 yards in regulation, while his 25-yard attempt went down the middle in overtime to secure the 17-14 win. O’Grady’s three-field goal day made him the first ISU placekicker to converted three attempts in a game since Jerry Nunez made a trio of field goals twice back in 2018.
Newcomer of the Week
WR Naseim Brantley, Western Illinois
6-4, 200, Gr. (Farmingdale, N.J./Sacred Heart/Howell H.S.)
Making his Leatherneck debut, Brantley had a big night for Western Illinois in the season opener at UT Martin. He had six catches for 171 yards as well as touchdown catches of 51, 44 and 32 yard. Brantley also became the first Leatherneck with at least three receiving touchdowns in a game since Jaelon Acklin had three against South Dakota in 2017. His 171 yards receiving made him the first WIU receiver to have over 150 receiving yards since Dennis Houston had 175 against Eastern Washington last year.
