COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech freshman Ladarius Vanlier has
been voted the Ohio Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the
Week after a record-setting effort in the Golden Eagles loss at
Murray State Saturday night.
Vanlier, a true freshman from Nashville, had 291 all-purpose
yards, the fourth-most in school history. He returned an OVC-record
11 kickoffs (just one off the NCAA record) for 237 total yards (13
yards shy of the OVC record) including a 94-yard touchdown in the
second quarter. It marked the sixth-longest return in school
history and the ninth-longest kickoff return in the Football
Championship Subdivision (FCS) so far this season.
Vanlier also returned one punt 30 yards and caught four passes for
a total of 24 yards. The 291 all-purpose yards were the second-most
in the OVC (and seventh-most in the FCS) this season, behind only a
303-yard performance by his teammate Da’Rick Rogers last
week.
In addition to Vanlier's award, EIU quarterback Jimmy Garappolo
was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week, Pete Houlihan of
EIU took the Defensive Player of the Week honor, and Murray State's
Jaamal Berry captured the Newcomer of the Week award.
Following three consecutive weeks on the road, the Golden Eagles finally return home to Tucker Stadium next Saturday when they host Jacksonville State at 7 p.m. Tech is 2-0 at home this year. For ticket information, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or call (931) 372-3940.
OFFENSIVE
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB • Jr., 6-2, 206 • Arlington
Heights, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
Garoppolo completed 18-of-31 passes for a career-high 453 yards
and five touchdowns (all over 50 yards in length) and rushed for 48
yards and another score in Eastern Illinois’ 65-15 victory
over Austin Peay on Saturday. It marked his fourth 300-plus yard
passing game of the season; the 453 yards were the fourth-most in
school history and are the eighth-most yards by a quarterback in a
single game in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) this
season. Garoppolo had touchdown passes of 66, 66, 50, 63 and 56
yards as it marked the third time this season he has thrown five
touchdowns in a game. His 52 career passing touchdowns now ranks
third in school history behind only Tony Romo and Sean Payton. The
junior currently ranks second nationally in each points responsible
for (23.60/game), total offense (369.40 yards/game) and total
passing yards (1,827) while also ranking third nationally in
passing yards/game (365.4) and fifth in completions (28.20/game).
It marks the second time this season Garoppolo has been named OVC
Offensive Player of the Week.
Others Nominated: Tyrone Goard, Eastern Kentucky;
DaMarcus James, Jacksonville State; Walter Powell, Murray State;
Telvin Hooks, Tennessee State; Derek Carr, UT Martin.
DEFENSIVE
Pete Houlihan, CB • Jr., 5-11, 177 • New Lenox,
Ill. • Eastern Illinois
Houlihan recorded a team-high 10 tackles (7 solo) as the
Panthers defense shutdown Austin Peay 65-15 on Saturday afternoon.
In addition to his 10 stops, the junior had 1.5 tackles-for-loss
and half a sack while also forcing a fumble, netting a pass breakup
and registering a quarterback hurry. Houlihan currently ranks
seventh nationally in forced fumbles/game (0.50).
Others Nominated: Robert Knowles, Eastern
Kentucky; Caleb Lawrence, Jacksonville State; David Van Dyke,
Tennessee State; Ben Johnson, UT Martin
SPECIALIST
Ladarius Vanlier, RS/RB • Fr., 5-7, 165 •
Nashville, Tenn. • Tennessee Tech
Vanlier had 291 all-purpose yards, the fourth-most in
school history, in Tennessee Tech’s road loss at Murray State
on Saturday. The freshman returned an OVC-record 11 kickoffs (just
one off the NCAA record) for 237 total yards (13 yards shy of the
OVC record) including a 94-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It
marked the sixth-longest return in school history and the
ninth-longest kickoff return in the Football Championship
Subdivision (FCS) so far this season. Vanlier also returned one
punt 30 yards and caught four passes for a total of 24 yards. The
291 all-purpose yards were the second-most in the OVC (and
seventh-most in the FCS) this season, behind only a 303-yard
performance by his teammate Da’Rick Rogers last week.
Others Nominated: Cameron Berra, Eastern Illinois;
Griffin Thomas, Jacksonville State; Walter Powell, Murray State;
Jamin Godfrey, Tennessee State.
NEWCOMER
Jaamal Berry, RB • Jr., 5-10, 200 • Miami, Fla.
• Murray State
Berry, the transfer from Ohio State, carried the ball 13
times for 142 yards (10.9 yards/carry) and a touchdown in Murray
State’s 70-35 victory over defending OVC champion Tennessee
Tech on Saturday. The junior did most of his damage in the first
half when he carried the ball six times for 95 yards including
scoring on a 25-yard run early in the second quarter to put his
team on top 42-7. Berry also caught three passes for six yards in
the game. He is the first Racer to rush for 100 or more yards in a
game this season; the 142 yards was the eighth-most by an OVC
player in a game this season. It marks the second time this season
Berry has been named OVC Newcomer of the Week.
Others Nominated: Keiondre Gober, Eastern Illinois;
Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State; Telvin Hooks, Tennessee State;
Ladarius Vanlier, Tennessee Tech.