FSU's Gulker, DU's Wilkerson and GVSU's Reed earn GLIAC football player of the week honors
GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following week 2 of the 2023 football season. Ferris State sophomore quarterback Carson Gulker was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week, Davenport graduate linebacker Julius Wilkerson was honored as GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week and Grand Valley State redshirt freshman wide receiver/returner Kellen Reed was recognized as GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Carson Gulker, Ferris State
Ferris State University sophomore quarterback Carson Gulker engineered a major Bulldog comeback on Saturday (Sept. 9) night as the nation's top-ranked Bulldogs rallied from a two-score halftime deficit to beat nationally 16th-ranked Ashland 38-28 on the road in Ohio. Gulker ran for a game-high 138 yards on 21 carries and scored twice while completing six-of-12 throws for 121 yards and three scores in FSU's 28th-straight road win. The sophomore standout accounted for five touchdowns in the triumph and helped FSU roll up nearly 400 yards of total offense. His 54-yard throw to junior receiver Tyrese Hunt-Thompson late in the third pulled FSU within 28-24 and his 50-yard strike to start the fourth to senior wideout Xavier Wade gave the Bulldogs a 31-28 lead they would not relinquish. He finished off the scoring with a four-yard run in the final 30 seconds to seal the win.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Julius Wilkerson, Davenport
Linebacker Julius Wilkerson played a major role in DU's 24-19 win over RV Bowie State to improve to 2-0. He had a game-high 17 tackles in just his second game with the Panthers after transferring from Wayne State. The 17 tackles is third best in school history and became the first player with 15-plus tackles in a game since Jalen Robinson had 15 against Grand Valley State in November 2021. Wilkerson played over 80 snaps at linebacker and had nine solo tackles primarily in the short passing game by Bowie State and also recovered a fumble at the DU seven-yard line on Bowie State's opening drive.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kellen Reed, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State redshirt freshman wide receiver Kellen Reed returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown the first time he touched a ball in his collegiate career. Colorado State-Pueblo pulled to within a 28-21 score and Reed returned the ensuing kickoff for a TD to push the score to 35-21 at the half. The 95-yard return was the seventh-longest in program history and the first time a player returned a kickoff for a touchdown the first time he touched a ball in his career. #4 Grand Valley State claimed a 57-49 victory over #20 Colorado State-Pueblo in double overtime.
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE: Ethan Champney (MTU), Tyquan Cox (NMU), Myren Harris (DU), Mike O'Horo (SVSU), Tariq Reid (GVSU), Te'Avion Warren (WSU)
DEFENSE: Alfred Dailey Jr. (SVSU), Jax Hertel (NMU), Gamon Howard (WSU), Samuel Kinne (MTU), Olalere Oladipo (FSU), Devin Pringle (GVSU)
SPECIAL TEAMS: Eddie Jewett (FSU), Jeremy Taras (WSU), Kyle Wojahn (DU), Drew Wyble (MTU)
