East Earns National and SoCon Honors, Thomas Named SoCon OPOTW

Birmingham, Ala. – The Samford football team cleaned up on Monday when it came to awards as Nathan East was named National Defensive Player of the Week by Stats Perform and the Southern Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, while fellow Bulldog Jaylan Thomas earned SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors, both organizations announced on Monday.

This is the first time that both East and Thomas have been awarded Player of the Week honors this season.

East, a graduate linebacker, tallied a team-leading 10 tackles in Samford's 34-27 win at Furman on Saturday. The McCalla, Alabama native also forced two fumbles with two quarterback hurries, a pass break up and a sack. His second forced fumble of the game came on an eight-yard sack that set up the game-winning touchdown pass from Michael Hiers to J.R. Tran-Reno.

Thomas, a senior running back, rushed for 104 yards on five carries with three trips to the end zone. The Bulldog feature back averaged 20.8 yards per rush with touchdown runs of 28, 14 and 44 yards. The three rushing scores were a career-high for Thomas and the most by a Bulldog since Demarcus Ware found the end zone three times against Western Carolina in 2021.

The No. 13 Samford Bulldogs return to Seibert Stadium on Oct. 8 for a showdown with the Wofford Terriers at 12 p.m. CT on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased at SamfordTickets.com.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Nathan East: LB; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#8 J.R. Tran-Reno: WR; 6' 1"; Senior

#10 Michael Hiers: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

#6 Jaylan Thomas: RB; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Nathan East
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: LB

#8 J.R. Tran-Reno
: 6' 1"; Senior
: WR

#10 Michael Hiers
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

#6 Jaylan Thomas
: 5' 9"; Senior
: RB