Philadelphia, PA – Furman quarterback Chris Forcier, Indiana State running back Shakir Bell, Appalachian State linebacker Jeremy Kimbrough, Montana State kicker Jason Cunningham and New Hampshire wide receiver R.J. Harris have been named The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS National Players of the Week 4 for games ending Sept. 24.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Chris Forcier, Furman, Senior, 6-3, 215, QB, San Diego, CA
Forcier attempted only 16 passes in a 62-21 win against Presbyterian, but the former UCLA transfer made the most of them, completing 12 for 226 yards and seven touchdowns. He connected on touchdown passes of 13, 39, 6, 20, 64, 10 and 20 yards, while also adding a rushing touchdown. With eight total touchdowns, Forcier tied for the most in the FCS this season with Murray State quarterback Casey Brockman's performance against Tennessee State in Week 3 (seven passing, one receiving). Forcier set or tied six Southern Conference or school records.
Shakir Bell, Indiana State, Sophomore, 5-8, 185, RB, Indianapolis, IN
The red zone is defined as inside the opponent's 20-yard line and the prime area a team is supposed to find the end zone. But for Bell, the whole field was the red zone against Youngstown State as he scored on four long runs as part of a 21-carry, 256-yard day. Bell had touchdown runs of 62, 39, 61 and 51 yards - all in the first half - to help lead the Sycamores to a 37-35 victory in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jeremy Kimbrough, Appalachian State, Junior, 5-11, 238, LB, Decatur, GA
Kimbrough led a dominant defensive effort for the Mountaineers in a 14-12 Southern Conference win against Chattanooga. A middle linebacker who missed much of 2010 with a thigh injury, Kimbrough recorded 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles- for-loss and a pair of sacks. However, Kimbrough's biggest play came with 13:38 left in the game, when he intercepted a B.J. Coleman pass and returned it 46 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jason Cunningham, Montana State, Senior, 6-1, 180, K, Amarillo, TX
Montana State became the first visiting team to win on the red turf at Eastern Washington's Roos Field, 36-21, and the Bobcats' senior kicker played a large role in the Big Sky Conference victory. Cunningham went 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts, including a pair of 55-yard fielders - the longest in the FCS this season. The NFL prospect also converted on attempts of 43, 32, and 31 yards in addition to nailing all three extra-point attempts for 18 total points.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
R.J. Harris, New Hampshire, Freshman, 6-0, 194, WR, Odenton, MD
Harris helped New Hampshire defeat then-No. 5 ranked Richmond, 45-43, hauling in 12 passes for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The freshman hauled in a 19-yard pass from quarterback Kevin Decker in the first quarter to give New Hampshire its first score of the day. Harris' second touchdown was even more important, as the 47-yard connection with 2:45 remaining held up as the game- winning score in the CAA Football showdown. After three games, Harris leads the Wildcats with 24 receptions for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
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