At 5-9, 190 pounds, Jequez Ezzard isn’t the most impressive player on the field before the coin toss. But when the ball is snapped, Ezzard is a man among boys for Howard University.
“He’s very quiet, he’s very humble,” Howard coach Mike London said last week. “During the summer months, you drive by Greene Stadium you see guys out there working out…he, Kyle Anthony, Caylin Newton…they were constants out there working out and stuff.”
The hard work is definitely paying off.
The junior from College Park, Georgia has had a great season so far, but he’s turned it up in the last two weeks. First there was the seven catch, 179 yard performance against North Carolina Central in Week Six that included three touchdowns.
Then, on Saturday, Ezzard pulled off another triple score game when he caught four passes for 191 yards, including a 78 yard score in a 55-13 win over Delaware State. His play won him the MEAC Offensive Player of The Week.
“He ‘s made some tremendous, highlight catches as we all know. He can run, he has an unbelivable nack for going up and getting the ball at its highest point. For manipulating and moving his body in a way that he can (catch)…back shoulder fades, underthrown balls, whatever it might be.”
The speedster averages 26.3 yards per catch, tops in the FCS. He’s caught 28 passes this season, eight of them for first downs. He averages 184 yards per game.
“More than anything else he’s a phenomenal young man,” London said. “I love the kid, and I know he wants to win, he wants to do whatever he can to help this football team.”
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ian McBorrough
Morgan State
LB
6-2 | 225 | Jr.
Essex, Md.
McBorrough led Morgan State with seven tackles while also amassing two forced fumbles and two sacks as the Bears defeated Savannah State on Saturday night.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Herman Jackson
Florida A&M
DB
6-1 | 205 | Fr.
Miami, Fla.
Jackson jumpstarted FAMU’s comeback against North Carolina A&T State as he picked up his forced fumble late in the second quarter and raced 55 yards for a touchdown as his score marked FAMU’s first touchdown of the afternoon. He also finished the game with four solo tackles and one pass breakup.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
L’Dre Barnes
Bethune-Cookman
OL
6-3 | 305 | R-So.
St. Petersburg, Fla.
Barnes helped the BCU offensive line block for 367 yards of total offense with 210 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He graded out at 93 percent on the afternoon.
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CO-SPECIALISTS OF THE WEEK
Faraji Joseph
Howard
PK
6-1 | 175 | Fr.
Greensboro, N.C.
Joseph led the MEAC in scoring this past weekend as he accounted for 11 points in the win over Delaware State. Joseph finished 5-for-6 on PATs and was 2-for-2 on field goals.
Malik Wilson
North Carolina A&T State
KR
5-11 | 166 | R-Sr.
Burlington, N.C.
Wilson returned the opening kickoff 100 yards in the contest versus Florida A&M. He finished the afternoon with a 55-yard average on two attempts.
NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Jalon Bethea (DB/North Carolina A&T State)
Blocked two punts with one leading to an Aggies’ touchdown.
Chris Faddoul (P/Florida A&M)
Averaged 46.5 yards per kick on two attempts, with a long boot of 55 yards and one downed inside the North Carolina A&T 20-yard line.
Xavier Gravette (TE/Morgan State)
Caught three passes for 69 yards with one touchdown.
James Holmon (OL/Howard)
Graded out at 90 percent as Howard finished with 529 yards of offense in the win over Delaware State.
Devin James (LB/Bethune-Cookman)
Tallied eight tackles (7 solo) including a tackle for loss and a blocked PAT at South Carolina State.
Josh Miles (OL/Morgan State)
Paved the way for Morgan State to finish with 298 yards of total offense in the win at Savannah State.
Antonio Miller (DL/Florida A&M)
Finished with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception in the win at North Carolina A&T State.
Keavon Mitchell (RS/Bethune-Cookman)
Averaged 37.5 yards on two kickoff returns while returning five punts for 68 yards.
Zamon Robinson (LB/Howard)
Had six tackles, a pair of tackles for loss and a sack in the win over Delaware State.
Ryan Stanley (QB/Florida A&M)
Led Florida A&M to a comeback win over North Carolina A&T State as he passed for 313 yards on 28-of-53 passing with a touchdown.
Akevious Williams (QB/Bethune-Cookman)
Finished 13-of-23 passing for 157 yards, connecting with eight different receivers overall on the afternoon. Williams accounted for both BCU touchdowns via the ground, adding a career-high 110 yards rushing on 10 carries.
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