MAC Football Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Brett Gabbert, Miami, QB
6th Year Senior, St. Louis, Mo. (Christian Brothers)
Brett Gabbert threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-12 victory over Bowling Green last Friday. The win sends Miami to its second-straight MAC Championship game. Gabbert completed touchdowns to three different receivers and averaged 14.2 yards per completions against the Falcons.
Parker Navarro, Ohio, QB
Graduate Student , Tempe, Ariz. (Desert Vista)
Navarro led the Bobcats in their dominant 42-21 victory over the Ball State Cardinals Friday (Nov. 29). The graduate student finished the day with 169 passing yards, going 7-for-11 with three touchdowns in the air. Additionally, Navarro was the team’s leading rusher, recording two touchdowns on 11 touches and 110 yards on the ground.
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
James Djonkam, Eastern Michigan, LB
Senior, Springfield, Va. (West Springfield)
For the second week in a row, Djonkam was all over the field as he recorded 17 tackles, including eight solo, with a career-high 3.0 TFLS (1.0 sacks) while forcing one fumbles and breaking up one pass. Djonkam, who recorded 22 tackles one week prior, was back at it as his 17 tackles tie for 17th-highest total in a single game this season, making him one of only four players throughout the FBS that have finished two games with 17+ tackles this year. He finished the season with 98 tackles and a team-best 11.5 TFLs, which ranks fifth in the MAC.
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
JaVaughn Byrd, NIU, Cornerback
Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Rufus King HS)
After NIU’s Cade Haberman blocked CMU’s extra-point attempt on the Chippewas first touchdown, JaVaughn Byrd picked up the block and flew 95 yards untouched for two points and a 15-point Huskie lead (21-6). The 2 point PAT was the third in school history and the first by NIU since 2018.