PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Prairie View A&M's Vallice Ford, who returned two blocked punts for touchdowns, was selected one of four NCAA Division I-AA players of the week.
Ford was named the special teams player of the week while Fordham's Matt Loucks and Jacksonville State’s Drew Robinson shared the defensive honor and Richmond's Tim Hightower was the 1-AA offensive player of the week as selected by The Sports Network.
Ford, a junior safety, returned blocked punts 18 yards and three yards for scores and also recorded a safety to account for 14 points in Prairie View's 22-7 win over North Carolina A&T last Saturday. Both kicks were blocked by Riante Jones.
Loucks, a junior safety, recorded 26 tackles in Fordham's 23-20 loss to Albany last week. Robinson, a senior linebacker, intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown in Jacksonville State's 33-19 victory over Chattanooga.
Hightower, a senior running back, piled up a career-high 246 yards and four touchdowns over 19 carries in a 49-14 win over Northeastern. Hightower's previous best rushing day was 149 yards, set last year against Northeastern.
