Players of the Week - No. 5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The fifth installment of the 2011 NAIA National Football Players of the Week was announced on Monday by the national office. Nate Collier of Graceland (Iowa) was named NAIA Defensive Player of the Week, Jimmy Coy of Saint Xavier (Ill.) was tabbed NAIA Offensive Player of the Week and Tom Lynch of Saint Xavier was selected as NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week for the week of Sept. 26 – Oct. 2. These winners were chosen out of a pool of player of the week performers among 10 conferences and independents.

Collier, a 5-8, 210 pound, junior from Orlando, Fla., posted three defensive notables in the 45-13 Graceland victory over Peru State (Neb.) on Oct. 1. Collier intercepted a pass, which he returned 55 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Less than three minutes later, he took a fumble back for a 52-yard score. He also finished with a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown by another defender. He added five tackles and 1.0 tackles-for-loss.

Coy, a 6-0, 205 pound, senior quarterback from Park Ridge, Ill., was efficient in leading top-ranked Saint Xavier to a 42-31 road win over No. 2 Saint Francis (Ind.) on Oct. 1. Coy was 29-for-43 passing (.674) for 338 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 14 times for 37 yards and did not record an interception or a fumble in the game. He had a touchdown pass in each of the final three quarters to complete the rally after the Cougars trailed 10-0 after the first quarter. Coy also kicked two punts and averaged 57.5 yards per attempt.

Lynch, a 5-11, 205 pound, senior kicker from Frankfort, Ill., made five-of-six field goal attempts in the Cougars victory against No. 2 Saint Francis. The 2010 Fred Mitchell Award winner that goes to college football's best kicker nailed field goals of 50 and 48 yards. Lynch also kicked the momentum-shifting onside kick to start the second half that was recovered by Saint Xavier. That play led to the go-ahead touchdown on the ensuing drive. He tied a school single-game record for points by a kicker with 18.

Offensive Nominees: Anthony Muilenburg, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.); Ryan Moses, Union (Ky.); Sean Ransburg, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Shane Gimzo, Ottawa (Kan.); Zach Mcrae, Montana Western; Taylor Parsons, William Penn (Iowa); Kyle Jech, Northwestern Oklahoma State; Deonte Fielder, Webber International (Fla.); Deonte Fielder, Webber International (Fla.); Deonte Fielder, Webber International (Fla.); Deonte Fielder, Webber International (Fla.); Deonte Fielder, Webber International (Fla.); Dave Velasquez, Dickinson State (N.D.); Dipo Kolawole, Ave Maria (Fla.); Jeremiah Andujo, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

Defensive Nominees: Jade Haddix, Pikeville (Ky.); Jacob Ghinazzi, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Michael Hicks, Southern Nazarene (Okla.); Andrew Briones, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Nathan Murphy, Bethel (Kan.); Jeremy Wallace, Doane (Neb.); Thomas Robison, Carroll (Mont.); Jake Thurston, Valley City State (N.D.); Ricky Carlson, Webber International (Fla.); Ray Scavone, Ave Maria (Fla.); Jake Jones, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

Special Teams Nominees: Jonny Sitton, Shorter (Ga.); Matt Klingler, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Brandon Lluis, Bethel (Kan.); Jeremiah Saffold, Doane (Neb.); Nick Knell, Rocky Mountain (Mont.); Dylan McGuire, Benedictine (Kan.); P.J. Stimson, Northwestern Oklahoma State; Mason Prater, Webber International (Fla.); Eric DeLira, Azusa Pacific (Calif.).

2011 Football Players of the Week (Offense; Defense; Special Teams)
Week 1: Brandon Smith, Northwestern (Iowa); Reece Green, Marian (Ind.); Marcus Bratton, UVa-Wise (Va.)
Week 2: Chris Ware, Eastern Oregon; Vincent Aguilar, Trinity International (Ill.); Levi Cockle, Peru State (Neb.)
Week 3: Josh Hollingsworth, Faulkner (Ala.); Ross Bauman, Saint Francis (Ind.); Terry Stecker, Kansas Wesleyan
Week 4: Trevor Hoskins, Pikeville (Ky.); Demitri Travis, Pikeville (Ky.); Alex Fambrough, Bethany (Kan.)
Week 5: Jimmy Coy, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Nate Collier, Graceland (Iowa); Tom Lynch, Saint Xavier (Ill.)