MEAC Announces Weekly Football Awards

August 31, 2026August 31, 2026 HRMessenger Staff HBCU sports, Howard University, MEAC, MEAC Sports, Morgan state university, Norfolk State University, NSU, SC State University

NORFOLK, Va. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its football weekly honors, with Howard’s Ja’Shawn Scroggins and Rodney Roane Jr. earning Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, respectively.

North Carolina Central’s Nelson Layne was named Rookie of the Week, while South Carolina State’s Kiande Marsh earned Offensive Lineman of the Week honors. Delaware State’s Patrick Fisher-Butler rounded out the honorees as the Specialist of the Week.

Offensive Player of the Week: Ja’Shawn Scroggins | Howard | 5th | QB | Las Vegas, Nev.
Ja’Shawn Scroggins led Howard to a 31-24 victory over Alabama A&M in the Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge, throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns while adding 49 rushing yards on 15 carries. He connected with Se’Quan Osborne on a 51-yard touchdown pass with 2:41 remaining to give the Bison the lead and secure the victory.

Defensive Player of the Week: Rodney Roane Jr. | Howard | 5th | LB | Richmond, Va.
Rodney Roane Jr. recorded six tackles, including three solo stops and three assists, in Howard’s victory over Alabama A&M. He also added a tackle for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.

Rookie of the Week: Nelson Layne | NCCU | Fr. | QB | Highland Springs, Va.
Nelson Layne accounted for three touchdowns, including two rushing and one passing, against Texas Southern. He totaled 247 yards of total offense, with 116 rushing yards and 131 passing yards, while connecting with seven different receivers.

Offensive Lineman of the Week: Kiande Marsh | SC State | So. | C | Charlotte, N.C.
Kiande Marsh helped lead South Carolina State to a record-setting 87-0 victory over Savannah State. He anchored the offensive line with a 96-percent grade with nine pancake blocks and no penalties. The Bulldogs’ offense amassed 627 total yards, including 429 rushing yards, in the victory.

Specialist of the Week: Patrick Fisher-Butler | DSU | Sr. | K | Bury St. Edmunds, England
Patrick Fisher-Butler played a key role in Delaware State’s 41-34 victory over Stony Brook. He converted both of his field-goal attempts, including a 41-yarder and a 52-yarder, with the latter ranking as the second-longest field goal in school history.

Other Top Performers

Jordan Barnett (Morgan State) – Morgan State’s offense was led by running back Jordan Barnett, who rushed for a game-high 114 yards and capped his night with a 22-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter against North Carolina A&T State.
Jaylin Terzado (Delaware State) – Jaylin Terzado hauled in six receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown for Delaware State.
Emari Green (South Carolina State) – Emari Green helped spearhead South Carolina State’s shutout victory in a record-setting 87-0 win over Savannah State on Saturday. The Bulldogs’ defense held Savannah State to 118 yards of total offense, while Green recorded three tackles and one tackle for loss.
Tyler Leinberger (Norfolk State) – Tyler Leinberger graded out at 91 percent and recorded seven pancake blocks in Norfolk State’s 56-0 victory over Winston-Salem State. He helped pave the way for 457 yards of total offense, including 306 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.