Football | 9/8/2025 1:07:02 PM

NORFOLK, Va., September 8, 2025 – Delaware State quarterback Kaiden Bennett has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week. CJ Wesley of Howard earned Defensive Player of the Week honors, while Maxim Copeland of Morgan State was selected as Rookie of the Week. Bears teammate Daniel Casillas Jr. picked up Offensive Lineman of the Week accolades, while Evan Helfrich of Norfolk State was recognized as Specialist of the Week.

Bennett (QB, 6-0, 195, Gr., Reno, Nev.) paced the Hornets’ offense in their first win of the season, a 37-32 victory over UAlbany. He completed 17-of-27 passes for 179 yards with a long completion of 41 yards, while adding 137 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Wesley (DL, 6-2, 240, RJr., West Orange, N.J.) anchored the Bison defense with a game-high eight tackles, including five solo stops, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble against Temple.

Copeland (WR, 5-11, 175, Fr., Windsor, Conn.) made a key special teams play by blocking a punt in the Bears’ matchup against Towson. He also contributed offensively with one catch for 18 yards.

Casillas Jr. (OL, 6-2, 315, Sr., Kissimmee, Fla.) anchored the Bears’ offensive front, grading out above 90 percent and allowing zero sacks, while helping Morgan State total 417 yards of offense, including 214 on the ground, against Towson.

Helfrich (K, 6-2, 175, Fr., Wake Forest, N.C.) delivered the game-winning 29-yard field goal in overtime to lift Norfolk State to a 34-31 win over Virginia State. He also finished a perfect 4-for-4 on PAT attempts.

Other Top Performers

• Ben Chandler (Howard) registered five tackles, with four solo stops, including 0.5 tackles for a loss.
• Jason Collins, Jr. (Morgan State) carried the ball 28 times for a game-high 134 yards and two touchdowns, while adding three receptions for 32 yards.
• Ty Jones (Norfolk State) paced the Spartans’ defense with a team-high seven tackles, including five solo stops.
• Otto Kuhns (Norfolk State) guided the Spartans’ fourth-quarter and overtime comeback, completing 13-of-20 passes (65 percent) for 173 yards and two touchdowns, while adding five carries for 23 yards.
• Malique Leatherbury (Morgan State) totaled 118 yards on five kickoff returns (23.6 avg., long of 28) and led the Bears’ receiving corps with four catches for 42 yards.
• Jianni Woodson-Brooks (Morgan State) led the Bears’ defense with a team-high 10 tackles, including three for loss, and a sack against Towson.