BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — West Florida defensive lineman Collin Shaw (defensive), Valdosta State linebacker Joko Willis (special teams), and Mississippi College running backs Marcus Williams (offensive) and Preston Godfrey (freshman) were each recognized with Gulf South Conference football weekly awards following Week 10 of the 2024 season.
Offensive Player of the Week:
Marcus Williams, Sr., RB, Mississippi College
Williams rushed for a career-best 189 yards in Mississippi College’s 35-7 win over non-conference foe Northeastern State. As a result, the senior account for nearly 47 percent of the 404 yards of offense by the Choctaws on Saturday. He had another career-high, carrying the ball 28 times, while finding the end zone twice. He average 6.8 yards per rush attempt, with his longest of the day going for 50 yards. Williams is the second Choctaw this season to garner GSC top offensive weekly honors, following Javier Batiste (Sept. 30).
Other nominees: Jakobe Lane, Chowan; Alfonso Franklin, Valdosta State; Spencer Arceneaux, West Alabama; TJ Lane, West Florida
Defensive Player of the Week
Collin Shaw, R-Jr., DL, West Florida
Shaw pieced together a solid performance as No. 17 West Florida rolled to a 35-14 win over North Greenville. The redshirt-junior logged a team-high six tackles in the outing, including five solo stops, two sacks totaling 25 yards and two forced fumbles. The Argonauts finished with five sacks on the day while limiting the Trailblazers to a season-low 74 yards of offense. Shaw is the third Argo to earn weekly top defensive honors of the season, following Kam Canterbury (Sept. 30) and Ja’Kobe Clinton (Oct. 28).
Other nominees: Nyamusa Njoka, Chowan; Jason Betz, Mississippi College; Montae Boyd, Valdosta State; Lamar Gray, West Alabama
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Joko Willis, Gr., LB, Valdosta State
Willis helped the top-ranked Blazers remain undefeated on the year with a 49-20 win over Delta State in Cleveland, Miss. The graduate linebacker recorded a blocked punt with a scoop and score to give Valdosta State a 14-0 first quarter lead. The block punt was the second of the season for the Blazers and the first returned for a touchdown since 2022. Willis is the first Blazer to claim the GSC weekly special team honors since Estin Thiele on Nov. 13, 2023.
Other nominees: Jakobe Lane, Chowan; Jerrick Foster, North Greenville; Elijah Guyton, West Alabama; Jay Sharp, West Florida
Freshman of the Week:
Preston Godfrey, Fr., RB, Mississippi College
Godfrey was a key piece in the Choctaws non-conference win over Northeastern State on Saturday. The rookie posted season-high numbers for rushing yards (131) and carries (26), averaging 5.03 yard per attempt, and found the end zone for second time this season. The performance pushed his season rushing total to 503 yards, second among team leaders and inside the top-10 among GSC leaders. Godfrey is the first Choctaw to win the weekly top freshman award since John Henry White on October 10, 2022.
Other nominees: Corey Scott, West Florida
2024 GSC Football Players of the Week
Offensive Player of the Week
9/2: Sammy Edwards, QB, Valdosta State
9/9: Cole Kirk, QB, Delta State
9/16: Blake Hester, RB, Valdosta State
9/23: Alfonso Franklin, RB, Valdosta State
9/30: Javier Batiste, WR, Mississippi College
10/7: Sammy Edwards, QB, Valdosta State
10/14: Marcus Stokes, QB, West Florida
10/21: Dre’ Williams, WR, North Greenville
10/28: Dre’ Williams, WR, North Greenville
11/4: Tony Bartalo, QB, West Florida
11/11: Marcus Williams, RB, Mississippi College
Defensive Player of the Week
9/2: Larry Elder, DB, Valdosta State
9/9: JJ Hudson, LB, Delta State
9/16: Davonta Jackson, DL, West Alabama
9/23: Lamar Gray, DB, West Alabama
9/30: Kam Canterbury, DB, West Florida
10/7: Ahmir Taylor, DL, Delta State & Larry Elder, DB, Valdosta State
10/14: Delawrence Butler, LB, West Alabama
10/21: Larry Elder, DB, Valdosta State
10/28: Ja’Kobe Clinton, LB, West Florida
11/4: Davonta Jackson, DL, West Alabama
11/11: Collin Shaw, DL, West Florida
Special Teams Player of the Week
9/2: Elijah Guyton, K, West Alabama
9/9: Virgil Lemons, RS, West Florida
9/16: Trey Sullivan, P, West Alabama
9/23: Elijah Guyton, K, West Alabama
9/30: n/a
10/7: Jonathan James, DB, Delta State
10/14: Trey Sullivan, P, West Alabama
10/21: Trey Sullivan, P, West Alabama
10/28: Brandon Bowman, K, North Greenville
11/4: Virgil Lemons, RS, West Florida
11/11: Joko Willis, LB, Valdosta State
Freshman of the Week
9/2: n/a
9/9: Rodshaun Dorsey, WR, Erskine
9/16: n/a
9/23: Tyshon Mansell, WR, North Greenville
9/30: n/a
10/7: Nick Clark, RB, Delta State
10/14: Corey Scott, WR, West Florida
10/21: Tyshon Mansell, WR, North Greenville
10/28: Brandon Bowman, K, North Greenville
11/4: Lorenzo Payne, DL, West Florida
11/11: Preston Godfrey, RB, Mississippi College