MAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Jordan Gant, Akron, RB         
R-Junior, Lakeland, Fla. (Kathleen HS | Tennessee State)
Jordan Gant fueled the Akron Zips offense in a 51-7 win over Duquesne. The Zips registered 514 yards of total offense, including 265 yards on the ground. Gant was responsible for 161 yards rushing on only 13 carries, recording 12.4 yards per rush. Gant found the endzone three times, scoring 21 of the Zips 51 points. Gant set a career high in all three categories, rushing yards, touchdowns and yards per rushing attempt.
 
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Bryce Llewellyn, Eastern Michigan, DB        
Senior, Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral)          
Llewellyn was instrumental in the Eagles’ first win of the season as he posted a team-leading and career-high 10 tackles while recording his first career interception with 3:38 remaining in regulation and EMU holding a 31-24 lead. Tied for fourth in the MAC in interceptions and tied for ninth with 29 total tackles, Llewellyn’s previous single-game high for tackles came Oct. 21, 2023, with Charleston Southern when he recorded eight stops at No. 17 UT Martin.
 
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Rudy Kessinger, Eastern Michigan, PK         
R-Freshman, Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Watterson)  
The redshirt freshman played the role of hero for the Eagles as he knocked in a 42-yard field goal with three seconds to play, giving EMU a 34-31 win on Homecoming and its first of the season. Kessinger was 2-of-3 in field goal attempts and 4-for-4 in extra-point attempts for 10 points, marking the first time in his career he tallied double-digit points after scoring 11 at Kentucky. Kessinger also recorded his first career punt as he dropped 36-yard boot to the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter to pin the Louisiana offense deep. Perfect on PATs (11-of-11) for the season and 8-of-11 in field goals, Kessinger’s winning kick helped him to maintain his 2.0 field goals per game average, which ranks 10th in the FBS and 2nd in the MAC while his 8.8 points per game is third overall in scoring in the MAC and second among kickers.