GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following opening week of the 2023 football season. Davenport quarterback Jason Whittaker earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors while teammate, Saginaw Valley State junior linebacker Alfred Dailey Jr. captured GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week recognition and Ferris State sophomore slot receiver/returner Deion Small claimed GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jason Whittaker, Davenport
Davenport quarterback Jason Whittaker continued where he left off last season by throwing three touchdown passes with no picks in a 31-17 win over Thomas More. Whittaker threw for 276 and completed 65 percent of his passes in windy conditions. It was the fifth game of his Davenport career with three or more touchdown passes in a game. In addition, he accounted for a fourth touchdown with a one-yard run in the second quarter.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alfred Dailey Jr., Saginaw Valley State
Alfred Daily Jr. was all over the field for the Cardinals in week one. He led the team in tackles with 10 and forced a fumble on a tackle for loss late in the fourth quarter that put the Warriors in a 3rd and long situation that resulted in a punt and helped seal the win over Winona State.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Deion Small, Ferris State
Ferris State University sophomore slot receiver Deion Small had a big night for the two-time defending national champion Bulldogs in a decisive 54-12 season-opening home win over Mercyhurst on Thursday night before a large crowd at Top Taggart Field. Small energized the crowd early with a 71-yard punt return for a score following the initial series’ and averaged 45.5 yards on a pair of punt returns in the game. He also carried the ball once for 10 yards and caught a pair of passes, including scoring on a reception in the fourth period. His play helped the nation’s top-ranked Bulldogs total 646 yards of offense and 29 first downs in the win.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Terrance Brown (SVSU), CJ Jefferson (FSU), Sam Peiffer (NMU), Cade Peterson (GVSU), Jayden Waddell (WSU)
DEFENSE: Matt Buschman (WSU), Major Dedmond (FSU), Christian McCarroll (GVSU), Justin Peake (NMU), Alaric Wooten (DU)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Ryan Heicher (SVSU), Michael Karlen (NMU), Griffin Milovanski (WSU), Kyle Nott (GVSU)
