ST. LOUIS, Mo. – DJ Williams, Chris Presto, and Derek Harden Jr. of the Southern Illinois University football team have earned weekly honors from the Missouri Valley Football Conference, as announced by the league on Monday.
Williams was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in his career, while Presto earned MVFC Defensive Player of the Week and Harden earned MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
In addition to the league award, Williams was also announced as the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
In Southern Illinois’ 59-31 win at SEMO on Saturday, Williams had one of the best performances of his collegiate career. The senior posted several career-high marks in Cape Girardeau, including passing yards (342), passing touchdowns (four), and rushing yards (151).
Williams accounted for 493 total yards of offense, the third-most in a game in program history. The veteran signal caller’s 151 rushing yards are also the second-most an SIU quarterback has had in a single game.
A Southern Illinois quarterback had never surpassed both 300 passing yards and 150 rushing yards in a game until Williams did so at SEMO on Saturday.
Presto earned his first Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering 12 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble against the Redhawks.
On the Redhawks’ first drive of the game, Presto knocked the ball away from SEMO’s Payton Brown right into the hands of linebacker Colin Bohanek, who returned it for 55 yards.
Three plays into the second quarter, the junior from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., recorded his first interception of the year after deflecting and coming down with a pass from SEMO’s quarterback Jax Leatherwood.
Harden earned Offensive Lineman of the Week after receiving a 94% grade in Saturday’s win.
The senior guard did not allow a sack and tallied three knockdowns against the Redhawks.
Harden helped lead the Salukis to a 270-yard rushing performance, the second-straight week where SIU has reached at least 270 yards on the ground.
Williams, Presto, Harden, and the Salukis enter their bye week with a record of 3-1 on the year. The next time Southern will take the field will be back at home for Family Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.
Missouri Valley Football Conference Weekly Award Winners – Monday, Sept. 22
Offensive Player of the Week: QB DJ Williams, Southern Illinois
Defensive Player of the Week: LB Chris Presto, Southern Illinois
Special Teams Player of the Week: K Andrew Lastovka, Youngstown State
Newcomer of the Week: DB Shadwel Nkuba II, Illinois State
Offensive Lineman of the Week: G Derek Harden Jr., Southern Illinois
