NORFOLK, Va. — The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its weekly football honors, highlighted by South Carolina State Joshua Barker earning Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Defensive Player of the Week: Joshua Barker | South Carolina State | DL | Sr. | Kennesaw, Ga.
Barker spearheaded a South Carolina State defense that helped the Bulldogs improve to 5-0 with a 31-21 road victory over Bethune-Cookman. The Bulldogs held the Wildcats to 107 rushing yards. Barker controlled the line of scrimmage, finishing with four tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries.

Others earning honors were Norfolk State freshman Da'Jean Golmond earning Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week honors, while Norfolk State's Tyler Leinberger and Marco Peery were named Offensive Lineman and Specialist of the Week, respectively.

Offensive Player/Rookie of the Week: Da'Jean Golmond | Norfolk State | QB | Fr. | Denham Springs, La.
Golmond delivered a standout performance in his first collegiate start, accounting for 356 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in Norfolk State's 43-20 road win over Chicago State. He completed 21-of-31 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 91 yards and another score. His 356 yards of total offense rank 12th in Norfolk State single-game history, while the Spartans' 623 total yards marked the fourth-highest single-game total in program history.

Offensive Lineman of the Week: Tyler Leinberger | Norfolk State | OL | 5th | Chester, Va.
Leinberger graded out at 95 percent with seven knockdowns and did not allow a sack in Norfolk State's 43-20 road victory over Chicago State. He helped anchor an offensive line that paved the way for 623 yards of total offense, including 358 rushing yards and 265 passing yards.

Specialist of the Week: Marco Peery | Norfolk State | K | Jr. | Norfolk, Va.
Peery contributed across all three phases of the kicking game in Norfolk State's 43-20 road victory over Chicago State. He punted five times for 187 yards, placing two punts inside the 20-yard line. Peery also converted all five extra-point attempts and handled seven kickoffs for 409 yards.
 
Other Top Performers

• Eden James (Howard) – Rushed for 116 yards on seven carries, including a 75-yard touchdown, at Rutgers.
• Mason Pickett-Hicks (South Carolina State) – Rushed 14 times for 136 yards, averaging 9.7 yards per carry, with a long run of 41 yards. The performance marked his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.
• Tyrone Julot (South Carolina State) – Anchored South Carolina State's offensive front with a 90 percent grade and six pancake blocks while allowing no sacks and committing no penalties.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.
Isaiah Green