KANSAS CITY, Mo. -  Jbias Dawson of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) has been named the NAIA Football Offensive Player of the Week. Emmanuel Olaitan of Faulkner (Ala.) has been named the NAIA Football Defensive Player of the Week. Blake Dapkus of Benedictine (Kan.) has been named the NAIA Football Special Teams Player of the Week.  The trio was selected based on their performances from September 18-24 and were chosen out of a pool of conference/Continental Athletic Conference (Independents)/unaffiliated group nominees. 

Players of the Week are announced weekly throughout the regular-season on Mondays on naia.org, Instagram and Twitter.

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NAIA Football Offensive Player of the Week

Jbias Dawson, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) - SR - Running Back

• Set a new single-game program record with 252 total rushing yards on 27 carries 
• Aaveraged 9.3 yards per carry en route to his record-setting performance and finished with a career-high three touchdowns. 
• Eleventh Blue Raider in the program's history to rush for at least 100 yards in a game and the third to eclipse 200 yards. 

NAIA Football Defensive Player of the Week

Emmanuel Olaitan, Faulkner (Ala.) - FR - Linebacker

• Tallied nine tackles including 3.5 sacks as well as a forced fumble on a strip sack. 
• Was close to unblockable as Faulkner beat Southeastern 16-13 in overtime. 
• His final sack of the game came in overtime as he helped the Eagle defense hold Southeastern to a field goal attempt. 

NAIA Football Special Teams Player of the Week

Blake Dapkus, Benedictine (Kan.) - FR - Special Teams

• Starter on all four core special teams units (punt, punt block, kickoff, kickoff return)
• Blocked a punt which led to a TD, downed a punt at the 1-yard line, and then blocked the ensuing punt for a safety. 
• The kickoff team averaged starting field position at the 22.5-yard line and the kick off return team averaged starting field position at the 50-yard line. 

For a full archive of the 2023 NAIA Football Players of the Week, click HERE