BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following a highly anticipated week of action, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced weekly awards where Texas Southern’s Athean Renfro Jr. was tabbed Offensive Player of the Week followed by Keith Bass Jr. from Jackson State swiping Defensive Player of the Week. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Demetric Whitlock shined his way as the Newcomer of the Week followed by Andrew Ivaniciuc earning Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
SWAC Football Offensive Player of the Week: Athean Renfro Jr., Texas Southern
The Senior Running Back from Beaumont, Texas opened the season leading the Tigers in the ground game with 163 rushing yards in 18 attempts with his longest being 45 yards while adding a touchdown. Renfro led the charge with his performance averaging 9.1 yards per carry and the lone 100-yard rusher as Texas Southern totaled 294 rushing yards as a team. Athean Renfro Jr. helped the Tigers overcome North Carolina Central with a 42-30 final score, giving the Tigers a notable win over the Eagles. Following a season where he rushed for 835 yards, Renfro Jr. opens the year, being ranked #5 in the FCS in the rushing yards category while adding his first weekly honor.
 
SWAC Football Defensive Player of the Week: Keith Bass Jr., Jackson State
The Sophomore Linebacker from Fairburn, Georgia made his presence felt in the John Merritt Classic with six tackles (three solo, three assisted) while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and the lone sack that helped the seal the game on the final defensive drive in a 26-24 over Tennessee State on Saturday, August 29^th. Bass used the mentality to see the ball and go after the ball on each play while making the play that was needed to change the game. As Keith Bass Jr. continues to grow in his collegiate career, he adds his first weekly honor of the season.
 
SWAC Football Newcomer of the Week: Demetric Whitlock, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
The Redshirt Junior Wide Receiver from Gilbert, Louisiana made his debut with the Golden Lions where he roared his presence with five receptions, 160 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the win against Morehouse College on Saturday, August 29^th. Whitlock highlighted with a 94-yard reception that turned him into finishing the foot race in the endzone. Whitlock added his last two touchdowns with a 13-yard reception and a 39-yard reception proving to give the secondary headaches while stamping his name with Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the season opener. As Demetric Whitlock begins his career with the Golden Lions, Whitlock adds his first weekly honor following his debut and will be a name to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
 
SWAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week: Andrew Ivaniciuc, Jackson State
The Freshman Kicker from Lawrenceville, Georgia made his collegiate debut and had an impact on the game contributing to 12 of the 26 points scored by the Tigers in the win over Tennessee State on Saturday, August 29^th. Ivaniciuc went 4-for-5 with his longest field goal being 51-yards. His first two field goals helped begin the comeback from behind as he converted a field goal to trim their deficit t single digits going into halftime with the score of 17-10. As Jackson State continued to climb their way back, he added a 45-yard field goal conversion cutting their deficit to 17-13 at the 11:26 in the third quarter. As the Tigers took the lead later in the quarter, Andrew Ivaniciuc helped the lead grow with a 51-yard field goal and a 21-yard conversion. Following his performance, Andrew Ivaniciuc is ranked #9 in total points scored in the FCS and earns his first collegiate weekly award.
 
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 competitions are 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 on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit the official website of the SWAC at www.swac.org.