BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama State’s Ezra Gray and Ryan Nettles, Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Skyler Perry and Isaac Peppers and Southern’s Skykee Thomas it’s SWAC Football Players of the Week for their outstanding performances during conference play this past week the league announced on Monday.
 
Co-Offensive- Gray (Lynn Haven, Fla.) rushed for a career-high 195 yards on 23 carries while scoring three touchdowns during Alabama State 35-28 win over nationally ranked Jackson State. Gray scored the game-winner on a 50-yard run from scrimmage with 1:29 remaining in the game, and added touchdown runs of 4 and 49 yards. The senior averaged 8.5 yards per carry, while also catching two passes for 14 yards and returning four kicks for 92 yards including a long of 31 yards.
 
Co-Offensive- Perry (New Orleans, La.) completed 18-of-30 passes and set career highs in passing yards (346) and touchdown passes (4) in UAPB's 48-21 win at Grambling State, the program's first win over GSU since 2013. Perry threw touchdown passes of 58, 60, 28, and 31 yards and also rushed nine times for 38 yards during the game.
 
Defensive- Peppers (Greenville, Miss.) made a season-high 10 tackles with career highs in sacks (2.0) and forced fumbles (2) along with one pass breakup in Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s 48-21 win at Grambling State, the program's first win over GSU since 2013.
 
Specialist- Thomas (Lanett, Ala.) had 130 kick return yards on three kickoffs for one touchdown during Southern's 51-23 win over Texas Southern. He had an electrifying 98-yard kick return that helped give Southern a 23-14 lead in the second quarter of the game.
 
Newcomer- Nettles (Evergreen, Ala.) finished the day 27-for-42 for 257 yards and a pair of touchdowns against nationally ranked Jackson State. He threw touchdown passes of 35 yards and eight yards in the Hornets win.
 
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.