COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tra'Darius Goff was named Sunday as the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week and Maleek Hall received the league's Special Teams Player of the Week award for their roles in Tennessee Tech's 31-29 win Saturday at Murray State. Earlier in the day, Hall was selected as the league's Defensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness website.
Goff, a senior linebacker from Columbia, Tenn., made a game-high 14 tackles, including eight solo stops, a tackle-for-loss, sack and forced a fumble as Tech opened OVC play with the two-point road victory over the Racers. Even with all of that, Goff's biggest play of the game came with 1:51 to play and the Racers going for the game-tying two-point conversion. On a reverse to Jeremy Harness, Goff stayed with the speedy receiver and forced him out-of-bounds at the two-yard line to preserve the victory. Goff ranks ninth nationally in tackles/game (12.3).
Others nominated for the OVC Defensive award were Noah Spence, Eastern Kentucky; Dawson Wells, Jacksonville State; Elijah Daniel, Murray State; Roper Garrett, Southeast Missouri; Damani Taylor, UT Martin.
Hall, a junior cornerback from Clarksville, Tenn., blocked a field goal and a PAT, helping Tech claim its first victory in a Conference opener since its OVC Championship season in 2011. Hall also added 10 tackles (9ninesolo) and three pass breakups in the game. Hall blocked a 34-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the first half to keep the game tied at 14 at the break. After Murray State closed the Golden Eagles advantage to 28-20 midway through the third quarter, he blocked the ensuing PAT which eventually led MSU to go for two points at the end of the game, an attempt TTU successfully defended to win the game.
Others Nominated for Special Teams Player of the Week include Ben Deighton, Eastern Kentucky; Hamish MacInnes, Jacksonville State; Austin Rowley, Tennessee State; Jackson Redditt, UT Martin.
Two players shared the OVC Offensive Player of the Week award, while the Racers had the Newcomer of the Week.
CO-OFFENSIVE
Eli Jenkins, QB • Jr., 6-2, 205 • Birmingham, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Jenkins accounted for four touchdowns (three through the air and one with his feet) as No. 1 Jacksonville State went on the road to top UT Martin 48-41. He is the first JSU player since the 2013 season (DaMarcus James) to account for four touchdowns in a game and first Gamecock quarterback to do so since 2009 (Ryan Perrilloux). The junior completed 16-of-25 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns and rushed six times for 19 yards and a score. Jenkins tossed a 21-yard score in the first quarter, a nine-yarder in the second quarter and added a 17-yard strike in the third quarter. He ran in his score from the one-yard line at the end of the third quarter as JSU eventually led 48-20 before holding off a furious UTM rally over the final 10 minutes. With his 273 yards of total offense Jenkins moved into fifth place in school history on that list (5,368).
CO-OFFENSIVE
Jarod Neal, QB • Sr., 6-1, 210 • Hendersonville, Tenn. • UT Martin
Neal completed 34-of-49 passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns and also rushed for 21 yards as UT Martin lost 48-41 to No. 1 ranked Jacksonville State. The 34 completions and 433 yards were both career-highs for the fifth-year senior. After the Skyhawks fell behind 48-20 with 10:39 to play in the game, Neal led three consecutive scoring drives over the next six minutes to trim the margin to seven points with 4:26 to play. With his 454 yards of total offense Neal moved into eighth place on the UTM career list (4,251). Through three games this season Neal has 10 touchdown passes after having only 14 all of last season; the 10 touchdowns are the eighth-most nationally this season. Neal also ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency (163.0) and 16th in total offense (288.3 yards/game).
Others Nominated: Bennie Coney, Eastern Kentucky; KD Humphries, Murray State; Patrick Smith, Tennessee State; Jordan Smith, Tennessee Tech.
NEWCOMER
Elijah Daniel, DE • Jr., 6-2, 282 • Avon, Ind. • Murray State
Daniel, the transfer from Auburn, set a Murray State record with six tackles-for-loss (for -22 yards) in a 31-29 loss to Tennessee Tech on Saturday night. The junior had nine total tackles on the night, 2.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry. Daniel currently ranks 27th nationally in tackles-for-loss/game (1.5).
Others Nominated: Kendall Morris, Austin Peay; Ethan Thomas, Eastern Kentucky; Desmond Owino, Jacksonville State; Tremane McCullough, Southeast Missouri; Patrick Smith, Tennessee State; Anthony Flemister, Tennessee Tech; Damani Taylor, UT Martin.
