BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Alabama A&M’s Xavier Lankford, Texas Southern’s Jacob Williams and LaDarius Owens along with Mississippi Valley State’s Ty’Jarian Williams its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their impressive performances during games played this past weekend. 

Offense
Lankford helped lead the Bulldogs to their first win at Grambling State since 2011. He rushed 16 times for 193 yards and two scores. He averaged 12.1 yards per carry while also passing for 127 yards, with one touchdown.

Defense
Williams led Texas Southern with 13 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a 95-yard fumble return for a score as the Tigers claimed their first conference win of the season. Texas Southern defeated Bethune-Cookman 34-31.
 
Specialist
Owens contributed four kickoff returns for 142 yards with a long of 49 yards as Texas Southern defeated Bethune-Cookman by a score of 34-31. He averaged 35.5 yards per return while also contributing 163 rushing yards along with three rushing touchdowns.

Newcomer
Williams passed for 265 yards while going 19-of-29 with three touchdowns to help Mississippi Valley State claim a 42-17 Homecoming win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

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.
 
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.

Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
 
Follow the SWAC
For complete coverage of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, please follow the SWAC on social media at @TheSWAC (Twitter), @TheSWAC (Facebook), and @TheSWAC (Instagram) or visit the official home of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at www.swac.org.