FARMINGTON, Utah (Nov. 20, 2023) – The final Big Sky Football Player of the Week honors of the 2023 season were announced on Monday by the conference office, with five standouts earning recognition following their performances this past Saturday.
Co-Offensive Players of the Week: Jack Layne, Idaho/Richie Munoz, Weber State
In his first start of the season, Jack Layne passed for a school record six touchdowns and 275 yards in Idaho's 63-21 over Idaho State. The redshirt freshman was 20-of-26 passing on the day, as he led the Vandals to a 56-0 lead going into halftime.
Richie Munoz passed for 329 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground in Weber State's 48-21 win at Cal Poly. The performance marked another impressive outing for the true freshman, with Munoz racking up over 1,000 yards passing and 10 TDs in only five games played this season.
Co-Defensive Players of the Week: Teddye Buchanan, UC Davis/Jack Kelly, Weber State
Teddye Buchanan led UC Davis in its 31-21 win over No. 8 Sacramento State on Saturday, after an impressive performance in the Causeway Classic victory. Buchanan recorded seven total tackles and had two timely interceptions on the day, helping the Aggie defense force four turnovers overall.
Jack Kelly had a monster day for Weber State in its 48-21 win against Cal Poly, closing out a stellar season on the Wildcat defense. Kelly had seven tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception to round out his stat line.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Jermaine Jackson, Idaho
Jermaine Jackson did a little bit of everything for Idaho in its 63-21 win over Idaho State on Saturday, highlighted by a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown. Jackson found the endzone as a receiver as well, catching three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown.
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Others Nominated
Off: Lan Larison (UC Davis), Clifton McDowell (Montana), Efton Chism III (EWU), Angel Flores (NAU), Dante Chachere (Portland State)
Def: Alex McLaughlin (NAU), Alex Gubner (Montana), Dwayne McDougle (Idaho), Jaren Banks (EWU), Ezriel Vasquez (Portland State),
ST: Nico Ramos (Montana), Kyle Thompson (Weber State)
2023 Big Sky Football Players of the Week
9/4: Hayden Hatten, Idaho (Offensive); Elijah Ponder, Cal Poly (Defensive); Abraham Williams, Weber State (Special Teams)
9/11: Damon Bankston, Weber State (Offensive); Jack Kelly, Weber State (Defensive); Ricardo Chavez, Idaho (Special Teams)
9/18: Kaiden Bennett, Sac State (Offensive); Jett Stanley, Sac State (Defensive); Zach Schreiner, Sac State (Special Teams)
9/25: Sean Chambers, Montana State (Offensive); Eloi Kwete, NAU (Defensive); Ricardo Chavez, Idaho (Special Teams)
10/2: Anthony Woods, Idaho (Offensive); Winston Reid, Weber State (Defensive); Jermaine Jackson, Idaho (Special Teams)
10/9: Aaron Fontes, Montana (Offensive); Alex McLaughlin, NAU (Defensive); Coleman Owen, NAU (Special Teams)
10/16: Dante Chachere, Portland State (Offensive); Ryder Meyer, Montana (Defensive); Grant Glasgow, Montana (Special Teams)
10/23: Tommy Mellott, Montana State (Offensive); Jon Johnson, Montana State (Defensive); Kyle Thompson, Weber State (Special Teams)
10/30: Jobi Malary, Portland State (Offensive); Riley Wilson, Montana (Defensive); Ricardo Chavez, Idaho (Special Teams)
11/6: Clifton McDowell, Montana (Offensive); Da’Marcus Johnson, EWU/Marcus Harris, Idaho (Co-Def); Gianni Smith, Portland State (Special Teams)
11/13: Sean Chambers, Montana State/Lan Larison, UC Davis (Co-Off); Winston Reid, Weber State (Defensive); Brendan Hall, Montana State (Special Teams)
11/20: Jack Layne, Idaho/Richie Munoz, Weber State (Co-Off); Teddye Buchanan, UC Davis/Jack Kelly, Weber State (Co-Def); Jermaine Jackson, Idaho (Special Teams)