Opta Analyst’s FCS football coverage includes weekly national player and team honors throughout the regular season and will lead toward the annual season-ending Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Lehigh’s Luke Yoder, Montana State’s Caden Dowler, Stephen F. Austin’s Bugs Mortimer and Drake’s Nick Herman were selected on Monday as the Stats Perform FCS National Players of the Week for Week 13 college football games this past weekend.
In addition, the Yale Bulldogs were named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.
The weekly honors lead up to the Stats Perform FCS National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. The season-ending awards are in their 39th year.
The five honorees plus honorable mention selections for the FCS football awards:
FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, RB, Jr. 5-11, 205
Yoder carried the ball 19 times while collecting career highs with 234 yards, four touchdowns and a 12.3-yard average, powering Lehigh to a 42-32 victory at Lafayette in the 161st edition of college football’s most-played series. Included was an 80-yard scoring run to open the second half. He also had a 12-yard reception as Lehigh completed a 12-0 regular season and earned the Patriot League championship.
Honorable Mention: Elijah Howard, RB, Central Connecticut State; Justin Lamson, QB, Montana State; Jawaun Northington, RB, Murray State; Chris Parson, QB, Austin Peay; Josh Pitsenberger, RB, Yale
FCS National Defensive Player of the Week
Caden Dowler, DB, Montana State, DB, Jr., 6-0, 205
Dowler continued his sizzling play with six solo tackles and a pick-6 as Montana State won 31-28 at previously unbeaten Montana to secure the Big Sky championship. His 34-yard return late in the third quarter turned a 21-17 deficit into a 24-21 lead the Bobcats didn’t relinquish. He’s earned top Big Sky defensive honors in three straight weeks with four interceptions and 204 return yards, including a TD in back-to-back Top 10 wins.
Honorable Mention: Lando Brown, DE, Southern Utah; Anthony Busa, DB, Stonehill; Chris Gales, LB, UAlbany; Keyshawn Johnson, OLB, UT Martin; Dorian Plumley, S, Abilene Christian; Dylan Rowsey, DB, Murray State; Dune Smith, LB, UIW
FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week
Bugs Mortimer, Stephen F. Austin, PR/WR, R-Jr. 5-10, 177
The FCS’ leading punt returner reversed a return for a 79-yard touchdown and set the SFA seasonal yardage record as the Southland Conference champion won at Northwestern State 62-14. It was Mortimer’s fourth punt return TD – the most by an FCS player in a season since 2016. He also caught two passes and had 106 all-purpose yards. Mortimer is averaging 21.5 yards on 25 returns, and his 537 yards are 165 more than any other FCS player this season.
Honorable Mention: Gilbert Brown, P, Charleston Southern; TJ Cadden, Return/WR, Bucknell; Cavan Craig, P, Wofford; Matt Clark, PK, Duquesne; Ryan Marks, P, Utah Tech; Nick Reed, PK, New Hampshire; Refeno Vangates, PR/WR, North Carolina Central
FCS National Freshman Player of the Week
Nick Herman, Drake, RB, Fr., 5-11, 190
Herman rushed for 258 yards – the most by a Drake player since 2003 – in leading the Bulldogs (8-3) past Morehead State 17-10 for their third straight outright Pioneer Football League title. The biggest of his 27 carries was a 77-yard touchdown run with 3:05 remaining to extend Drake’s lead to 17-7. He’s 40 rushing yards shy of 1,000 as the Bulldogs enter the FCS playoffs.
Honorable Mention: Justin Buckner, OLB, Western Illinois; Landen Clark, QB, Elon; Jared Lockhart, QB, Jackson State; Kamari Maxwell, WR, Austin Peay; Caden Pinnick, QB, UC Davis; Te’Sean Smoot, QB, Alabama State
FCS National Team of the Week
Yale (45-27 win over Harvard)
Yale jumped to a 17-0 lead on the way to beating rival Harvard in their 141st all-time meeting, clinching a share of the Ivy League title with the Crimson and claiming the league’s first-ever FCS playoff bid. Starring for coach Tony Reno’s team were his son Dante Reno (273 passing yards, three touchdowns), Josh Pitsenberger (143 rushing yards, three TDs), Nico Brown (189 receiving yards, TD) and Brandon Webster (eight tackles, forced fumble and recovery on game’s first play from scrimmage).
Honorable Mention: McNeese (21-19 win at Lamar); Montana State (31-28 win at Montana); South Carolina State (28-17 win at Delaware State)
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Yoder, Dowler, Mortimer, Herman, Yale Collect Week 13 FCS Football Awards Opta Analyst.
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