NORFOLK, Va., September 15, 2025 –Three Bulldogs earn Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Football Weekly honors the conference announced Monday.
Graduate kicker
Nico Cavanillas Alti was named Specialist of the Week, while teammates
Roger Smith was named Offensive Lineman of the Week and true freshman Mason Pickett-Hicks was named Rooke if the Week respectively.
Smith (OL, 6-4, 330, Sr., Maple Heights, Ohio) graded out at 90 percent on all blocking assignments, paving the way for South Carolina State's 561 yards of total offense (226 rushing, 335 passing). He registered seven pancake blocks and did not allow a sack in the Bulldogs' win over Bethune-Cookman.
Pickett-Hicks (RB, 5-8, 162, Fr., Rock Hill, S.C.) led the Bulldogs with 87 rushing yards and one touchdown, highlighted by a 69-yard scoring run, in the win over Bethune-Cookman. He also completed a pass for 31 yards.
Cavanillas Alti (K, 6-0, 245, R-So., Anderson, S.C.) was perfect on special teams, connecting on all seven PATs and drilling two field goals from 44 and 41 yards.
Others earning honors were North Carolina Central quarterback
Walker Harris was named
Offensive Player of the Week and teammate
Thomas Johnson earned
Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Other Top Performers
- · Ryan Stubblefield (S.C. State) – Completed 21-of-35 passes for 286 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for two more scores on five carries for 31 yards against Bethune-Cookman.
- · Na'Shawn Biggs (Delaware State) – Accounted for four solo tackles, including one sack for a seven-yard loss, against Bowie State.
- · Antwan Davis (Norfolk State) – Recorded nine tackles, including five solo stops, against Rutgers.
- · Helfrich Evan (Norfolk State) – Made a 34-yard field goal against Rutgers.
- · Bryce Hall (Howard) – Collected four tackles, one sack for a five-yard loss, and one forced fumble against Morehouse.
- · Kevon King (Norfolk State) – Rushed for 56 yards, including the Spartans' lone touchdown against Rutgers.
- · James Jones (Delaware State) – Ran eight times for 100 yards and caught one pass for 26 yards in the Hornets' win over Bowie State.
- · Shane Messenger (Morgan State) – Averaged 38.6 yards on a school-record 12 punts (464 yards), including a season-long 50-yarder, against Toledo.
- · Tyriq Starks (Howard) – Accounted for three touchdowns, passing for 241 yards (16-of-27) and rushing for 29 yards on 14 carries, against Morehouse.
