CAA Football Weekly Awards - Oct. 28
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (October 28, 2024) – CAA Football has announced its weekly award winners for Week 9 of the 2024 season. Richmond sophomore quarterback Cam Coleman was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week, while Villanova junior linebacker received Defensive Player of the Week accolades. Elon junior punter Jeff Yurk was chosen as the Special Teams Player of the Week and Hampton freshman linebacker Michael Matthews-Canty was named the Rookie of the Week.
CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Cam Coleman, So., QB, Richmond (Clemmons, N.C./Robert B. Glenn)
Coleman was 15-of-16 passing for 278 yards and 4 TD’s and added a fifth TD on the ground in Richmond’s 41-14 win at Bryant. The sophomore had a 4-yard TD run in the first quarter before throwing scoring passes of 60, 36, 15 and 16 yards in the second to give the Spiders a 41-7 advantage. His 322.2 pass efficiency rating and 93.8% completion percentage are the best in FCS this season.
CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Shane Hartzell, Jr., LB, Villanova (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge)
Hartzell recorded a career-high 20 tackles and 2.0 TFL’s in Villanova’s 14-6 victory over UNH. The junior led a VU defense that held UNH to 254 total yards and a pair of field goals. He was involved in four straight stops inside the 7-yard line as part of a VU goal line stand in the 2
nd quarter. Hartzell’s 20 tackles are the 2
nd-most by an FCS player this season.
CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Jeff Yurk, Jr., P, Elon (Southern Pines, N.C./Pinecrest)
Yurk averaged 51.6 yards on nine punts, which included five kicks of over 50 yards and five that were downed inside the 20-yard line. The junior had punts of 57, 68, 51 and 57 yards that landed inside the 20 and added a 66-yard boot. Yurk currently leads FCS with a 48.2 punting average and has 15 kicks over 50 yards.
CAA Football Rookie of the Week
Michael Matthews-Canty, Fr., LB, Hampton (Fredericksburg, Va./St. Michael the Archangel)
Making just his second start at linebacker, Matthews-Canty tallied five tackles as part of a dominant defensive effort in Hampton’s 41-21 win over Elon. The freshman more than doubled his season total for tackles to help the Pirates hold the Phoenix to six first downs, -28 yards rushing and 168 total yards.